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| Tuesday, 09 March 2010 15:27 |
Paulo Machado takes swipe at Portuguese football: “In France, I’m not seen as a kid”Midfielder still has World Cup hope Toulouse midfielder Paulo Machado says he is pleased with the way he had adapted to life in French football, but admits to having some regrets about his lack of opportunities in Portugal.
Machado originally left FC Porto for Ligue 1 side Saint Etienne in the summer of 2008 on a one-year loan deal. Having impressed with Les Verts, Machado signed a four-year contract with Toulouse last summer in a 3.5m euro deal, a fee that still perplexes the 23-year-old today. “How could a club pay that much for someone who never had opportunities at Porto? I was astounded with the money they paid for me, but maybe I'm worth it,” Machado said. "From a financial point of view it's really worth being here. They pay me absurd amounts and every day I get more pleasure from my work. “Here I'm not looked upon as a kid. I think it's fine for Portuguese teams to look for quality, but is it not available in the country? I'm speaking without hard feelings, especially as today I'm earning what would be difficult for me to earn in Portugal and I feel wanted, but I can't help wondering about the situation." Machado turns 24 at the end of the month and admits to having further ambitions to play in a stronger league, while slim hopes of a late call-up to Carlos Queiroz’s World Cup squad have not yet left the former Portugal under-21 international’s mind. “I would love to play in Spain, but I am getting used to it here. I speak the language, which was initially a problem, and the city is quite similar to Porto. The World Cup? I am no different to anyone else; I have the ambition to be at the World Cup, even if I know it will be difficult.” By Sean Gillen Keep up to date with all the latest news on Portuguese football with the new PortuGOAL Twitter! |
Now that I got that out of the way,
I am really concerned with Portugal's backline. Miguel hasn't been the same and hasn't been playing since his problems.
Boswinga is now out.
Duda is not a back.
Pepe might not be back in time to be up to speed.
I just don't see any replacements.
I'm really happy for players like Machado and others that have taken their opportunity abroad and ran with it.
He does have to realize that his current club did pay a lot for him, hence Porto letting him go. If you are able to sell a player that doesn't even play for you for 3.5 mil that's great business. He should be happy he is doing well and earning a good living, that by the way he couldn't get as much in Portugal.
Hopefully the opportunities will come. I wouldn't mind seeing new midfielders since Deco is basically done, and Moutinho has proven to be ineffective.
players like daniel fernandes, nuno asis, queresma, machado,
but it seems that Queiroz will stick to the same players in qualification .
I cant see any of these getting a go.
shame