Moises Caicedo opens up on life in England - and THAT song

But only, you suspect to a degree.

“He came from Ecuador to win the Ballon d’Or,” was booming out from the Seagulls hordes at games late in the record-breaking ninth-placed season.

He laughs - but there is serious ambition there too.

“Nothing is impossible in life!” he says when asked about the chorus.

The 20-year-old brought in from South America as an idol back home and told to wait for his chance is very serious about reaching the very top.

While that might or might not end up with him lifting the ultimate individual accolade, he must feel like the world is his oyster as he reflects on an outstanding introduction to the world’s most cut-throat league.

And ahead of a World Cup adventure in Qatar.

Caicedo is away with Ecuador at the moment but consistent high level performances for club and country go hand in hand.

He said: “We are all fighting to be in the national team.

“There are lots of players fighting for places and, at the moment, I am there.

“I like that. I like helping the team and being a fundamental part of my national team.

“That responsibility has helped me.

“I’ve come to England and there is a lot of pressure in games but I feel like I have handled it very well, as I have done in my national team.”

Then with a nod to that unlimited ambition, he added: “There are always things to improve and I am hoping to keep learning a lot to be a top player in the Premier League and the world.”

Caicedo has grown up quickly. He has had to as a cornerstone of his nation’s best team in decades.

The move to England, with its cold climate and dark evenings, was helped by the presence of Jeremy Sarmiento and his Ecuadorean parents.

But he is proud of how he has coped with it – including that long wait for a Prem chance.

Having been recalled from what he sees as a beneficial loan at Beerschot at the bottom of the Belgian league, then impressed as a sub in the FA Cup defeat at Tottenham, he remained on the fringes in terms of the big league.

He is by no means alone in that.

Others have had to wait – including Tariq Lamptey, Alexis Mac Allister and, going back a bit, Yves Bissouma.

The key was to be ready all week for a chance which, in reality, he knew would probably NOT come at the weekend.

He said: “It was hard to wait to play but I just had to prepare myself well.

“Even not playing, I kept preparing. I had to be ready to play.

“It has been as I have expected. I have been working for this.

“I knew the football here is very quick, very dynamic, very strong and physical.

“I knew what I was letting myself in for.

“It has really helped me playing with Alexis and Bissouma because I practically play in the same position so they are the ones who have helped me most.

“I’m really happy that they have always been supporting me when I get the ball.

“Biss says if I lose the ball don’t worry, he will get it back and we will attack again.

“That has given me a lot more confidence.”

Caicedo sees that stint at struggling Beerschot as a plus, even though his fans back home wondered what on earth he was doing there He said: “The truth is I feel it helped me to go there and gain experience.

“I knew there were a lot of players here at Brighton who were playing.

“It would be very difficult to play.

“I was training well but I thought it was perhaps better to go and get more minutes.

“I think going there helped me a lot.

“I got a lot of rhythm, which also helped me with the national team.

“If I had stayed here, there was very little probability that I would play because there are lot of good players here.”

Injury to Jakub Moder against Norwich diminished those midfield resources going into the next game, at Arsenal.

At the same time, Graham Potter was looking at how to add more physical presence to midfield after a run of one point from seven games.

Caicedo was called in, the shape was changed.

What followed was a run of five wins, two draws (both of which should have been wins) and an educational defeat at Manchester City.

Caicedo has played against high quality opponents in CONMEBOL qualifiers for the World Cup.

But he sees a lot of difference to those games and what he faces in the league here.

He said: “Football here is a lot quicker. We know how the pitches are too.

“The ball runs more quickly here so it is very physical, very technical.

“We have the best players in the world here as well so it is a bit of a difference and that is why this is the best league in the world.

“But thanks to God I have been able to adapt well to the Premier League.

“Thanks to my effort, to the support of my family. I am where I am thanks to that.”

How far does he go? A successful first full Prem season would normally be the next major challenge after his introduction to the league in recent weeks.

But next season will be something out of the ordinary for pretty much everyone.

A league season with the mental, physical and emotional demands of a World Cup right in the middle will be unknown territory for players far more experienced than Caicedo.

But why shouldn’t he be full of confidence and optimism?

He said: “I dream of making history with Ecuador.

“With my team-mates, I want to take them to the top, with God’s blessing.

“Not just to get through one stage but to pass the next, and we have to believe in that.

“If you believe and try hard, things can happen.

“Believe in it and we can fulfil our dreams to take Ecuador to the top.”

And that Ballon D’Or chorus?

“I am very happy with the fans who have welcomed me very well and this motivates me even more, to keep doing things well and bring lots of happiness to the fans.

“Playing in the Premier League was a dream. The football is very fast, very dynamic, physical. I love this football and I’ve taken my first steps.

“Now to keep helping the team and be a fundamental piece of the team.

“After that every footballer wants to play in the Champions League why not? I’m working hard for that.”

CAICEDO QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS....

The Prem debut at Arsenal?

I wasn’t expecting it to be honest, against a big team like Arsenal.
But I was always preparing well.
Every training session when I wasn’t playing, I prepared very well because I knew the chance would come and I would have to respond very well.

Best match for Albion?
Manchester United, of course, because I scored a goal and I helped my team-mates score four goals.
Who doesn’t want to score a goal against Manchester United?
A huge team, among the best in the Premier League.
I think it was a dream but God fulfils dreams – and it’s also down to the work you do every day.

Pleased to see Ecuadorean fans and flags among Albion fans in the stands?
It has surprised me a lot and brought a lot of happiness.
It’s nice to see that Ecuador flag on the other side of the world and is very emotional.
It gives you more desire to keep pushing, knowing people love you.

How is your English?
I’m getting better with my English.
I understand everything on the pitch when people talk to me.
I don’t speak well but I understand a lot so I don’t have problems.
I’ll keep learning because I want to speak very well and understand everything on and off the pitch.
But I’m very happy with how it is going.

Hardest thing to get used to?
The climate! And the time difference, six hours.
It has been very hard but I’ve been dealing with it well in the last few months.
Now for time on holiday and with the family, which is the most important thing we have in life.
I’ll be enjoying time with my parents and all my family.

Message to people back home?
Well my Ecuador, I say thanks to everyone for their support in the qualifiers, for always believing in us and we want to bring you a lot of happiness in the World Cup.
We are working hard at our clubs to help take Ecuador as far as possible.