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Sunday, 27 May 2012 21:24

Ventura given the boot at Porto

Fabiano signing spells end of the Dragão for promising keeper

ventura-20100723.jpgHugo Ventura, once labelled as the successor to Porto and Portugal legend Vitor Baia will be seeking a new club as the Portuguese giants no longer consider him a part of their future according to a source close to the young keeper.

After two successful seasons out on loan at Olhanense and Portimonense, many fans had been pushing for the return of the Portuguese goalkeeper who was considered one of the best players at both clubs.

This past season, Ventura was once again loaned to Olhanense where it seemed that he would once again succeed and continue to pressure the Dragons into recalling him from loan. However, the 2011/2012 season was one to forget for Ventura as he was surpassed by Fabiano, who would go on to have a stand-out season in the starting eleven. Fabiano played all 30 games in the league for Olhanense and to add insult to injury, the Brazilian was recently signed by Porto.

"This won't do at all," an anonymous source told PortuGoal.net. "He obviously has to play, that's what's important for all players and right now, the only way that that's going to happen is through a transfer to another team."

The individual with a close connection to Ventura went on to explain that the keeper has heard nothing from Porto about taking part in pre-season and that he knows that a move must be made in order for his once promising career to get going again.

“He’s accepted that he has to move, even though it's obvious he wanted to succeed at Porto.”

The move from Porto adds to what seems to be becoming a tendency for the club. After raising young Portuguese talent through the ranks of their youth system, the Dragons tend to loan out their most promising young players to lower level sides. Although the players often play well enough to merit returns, they seldom find their way back to their parent club. Candeias, Hélder Barbosa, Bruno Gama, and several others have been victims of this system in the recent past. Ventura is simply the latest one.

Whether the 24-year-old will go abroad or stay in Portugal is unknown. "Ventura will only begin looking for a club after his holidays," added the source. 

Victor Ferreira


Comments (12)
That's life!
12 Thursday, 31 May 2012 11:28
Even though I agree that there should be plenty more portuguese players in their national teams, the truth is that these don't seem to be up to scratch. Most young Portuguese players actually do have a chance in the top teams but fail to make the most out of it. It's as if they only mature until later on in their carreers. In Ventura's case, failing to gain first team football with a side like Olhanense surely wont impress Porto.
As for Sporting making the most of their youth, credit to them, but that also justifies their lack of titles.
In other news!
11 Tuesday, 29 May 2012 21:30
Hugo Viera has been acquired by Benfica on a free transfer! Hopefully this means Saviola will be gone! :D
The Future
10 Tuesday, 29 May 2012 14:46
I understand the big clubs in Portugal want to compete in the elite of European football. It is also sad that teams like Benfica have a team predominantly made up of South Americans. Porto also to an extent as well baring three Portuguese that I know of..Moutinho, Varela and Rolando. Now, if these clubs do not harness and develop these boys in the big clubs....they will be loaned out and lost in the abyss. This also posses a problem for the national team in the future...where the young players will go to either lower leagues or countries where the competition isn't as strong. I think the FPF should pose a rule where all teams must have three starting Portuguese in their teams or of course more...and contrast to what was the old foreigner rule where 3 foreigners where allowed. Loosing promising players is a catastrophe to the national team and Portuguese football.
Thoughts
9 Tuesday, 29 May 2012 12:10
Wait a minute, Ventura couldn't start at Olhanense, but Porto is somehow responsible to continue to give him an opportunity?
Last time I checked Porto is concerned with winning, not only domestically but in Europe as well.

I wish Ventura the best and hopefully he catches on somewhere so he can get his career back on track.

I also find it funny that players never get the blame if they are dropped or sent on loans. Maybe Ventura got a little big on himself and thought he was on his way and didn't work as hard. Olhanense noticed it and sat him.
Teams want to win, period. They could care less, who you are, unless you will bring in a ton in merchandising. Mid and lower level clubs in the SuperLiga don't have that luxury.

Also, for those that think this is the doom to the Seleccao, please go take a look at the record of the Seleccao's Int'l play before the "Golden Generation". The league was full of Portuguese players only, yet we didn't qualify for anything. There were some very lean years.
Maybe B teams playing in the second tier will help
8 Tuesday, 29 May 2012 07:55
While I agree Porto needs to win and where a player is born should be of no importance, it is always a fan favorite when a local makes the team and shines. Sad to see a potential of that happening not working out. Was just thinking, with B teams playing in the second tier might be better for upcoming players as, while they do get the playing time when loaned out here they can play with the club's football philosophy and maybe more of them will make it though and not have dashed hopes like Hugo Ventura
Reality Check
7 Tuesday, 29 May 2012 02:19
from a club standpoint who gives a flying f*ck where they were born? Sounds a little right wing extreme to me. Only "pure born" portuguese on independent private portuguese league clubs??

with this Mentality I can see why We will NEVER win a Euro or World Cup....... why is Spain a good team? because the teams have a good mix of Spanish and International players, and they nurture their homegrown players. we tend to just send them away, even though some have wanted to play for the club they grew up watching and will to take a pay cut.

START CARING FOR YOUR HOMEGROWN PLAYERS.. if we started now especially with the B teams im sure in 10 15 years we would see better results.none of this Fc Brazil (Porto). I love Porto and always will. But this is getting tiresome of us just becoming a stone for brazil players to step on.
Reality Check
6 Monday, 28 May 2012 19:12
Pinto Da Costa's job is to sign the best players to win championships. 8 league titles, and 3 european titles, in 10 yrs is about as good as it gets. From a club standpoint who gives a flying f*ck where they were born? Sounds a little right wing extreme to me. Only "pure born" portuguese on independent private portuguese league clubs?? Ask Sporting how that has been working..... From a clun perspective, the only thing that matters is WINNING.
No Chance
5 Monday, 28 May 2012 04:49
It sickens me that so many of our home grown players are not given an opportunity by our teams. Sporting was the only 1 of the big 3 to develop home grown players. Unfortunately they couldn't compete....and joined the rat race. I was born in Portugal Azores islands. I came to Canada at the age 9, and I am 40 year young! I have always cheered and followed my beloved Portuguese national team!! I have to admit that I didn't have much interest in our Portuguese league. It was a few years ago that I started to follow the Portuguese league closely again. The main reason was that FC sporting had all these exciting young Portuguese players. The had Ricardo Quaresma, Cristiona Ronaldo, Hugo Viana, and many more. It is sad to see all the foreigners playing in our league, in hopes of moving on to bigger clubs. I hope that sanity prevails and some one step in and does something about this, or this could have a terrible effect on the future of Portuguese football, and sadly our national team. I also believe that this has had an effect on attendance in these stadiums. I believe in importing player! they can bring a different flavor to the game. The problem is that there are way to many of them, and it is hurting the young home grown player, and the identity of our football. Cheers
Ventura
4 Monday, 28 May 2012 02:12
Yet another case of a good young Portuguese player being pushed out by a foreigner player.
I think this is one of the reasons our National team really lacks depth these days.
Hopefully he can find a starting job somewhere and be an option for the National Team in the future.
Give Youth a Chance!
3 Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:46
Not only Ventura, Candeias, Hélder Barbosa, and Bruno Gama, but add Bruno Vale, Paulo Machado, Vieirinha, Hugo Almeida, Ivanildo, João Pedro, and Josué to that list. Also won't be long before Castro, Sergio Oliveira, and Ukra join that list too. And those dummies only think Benfica is bad with giving their youth a chance. You know Porto and Benfica could learn a thing or two from Portugal's best team at bringing up youth, SPORTING!
Come to Benfica :)
2 Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:11
Why not have him come in as a replacement for Eduardo (if they don't make his move permanent) Would be great two see Benfica with two young promising Portuguese goalkeepers in Mika and Ventura. Plus he's free ;)
embarrassing
1 Sunday, 27 May 2012 23:01
I can't wait to see how awful our national will be in the future. We're going to have to call up players from small clubs in the future to play for the national team. Porto have literally become Benfica # 2

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