From Azerbaijan to Wolverhampton, analysis of Portugal's new foreign legion

All of you already know about the summer’s big-time transfers, amongst them: Raphael Guerreiro, Renato Sanches and João Mário, a trio of European Champions (that still feels so good to say!). But what about the less “hyped” transfer business involving Portugal’s national representatives?

Who will shine away from their home country this season? Let’s take a look at the long list of Portuguese movers abroad whose permanent or loan transfers may not have made the headlines but who just may be making the right step to get their careers going.

 

André Martins (Sporting to Olympiakos)

Martins never had space in the Sporting eleven since Jesus arrived at the club. The club were expected to cash in on the Portuguese last season but both sides let the contract run out and Martins moved to Greece, teaming up with coach Paulo Bento. With competition of his level, an expected European run in the UEL and being backed by a manager who enjoys his playing qualities, André will get game time and come back to his best.

 

Gonçalo Paciência (Porto to Olympiakos (loan))

Domingos’s older son has shown incredible character by turning his year around out of nowhere. André Silva became the starter in Porto B and all the hype turned away from Gonçalo. A non-prolific loan in Coimbra saw him having to work more defensively than offensively for a side in desperation that eventually got relegated.

The 20-year-old proceeded to prove his quality in the Portugal team that surprised in the Olympics, scoring in every group stage match, and will now be an option for Paulo Bento at Olympiakos. With just Ideye as competition for the spot he should get some minutes. The support from a good set of wingers and attacking midfielders in a subpar league should help him get his confidence back completely.

 

Nélson Oliveira (Benfica to Norwich City)

A couple of solid performances, a handful of goals per season and a whole lot of hype. If we look back, Nelson only managed to play one full season for Benfica having a scored a total of 3 (!) goals for the reigning Champions. The forward proceeded to roam through Europe on several loan deals, playing for Deportivo, Rennes, Swansea and – last year – Nottingham Forest.

Oliveira settled well in the Championship and had, scoring-wise, the best season of his career. If he can improve on last year’s 9 goals, Norwich will become even more of candidate to bounce straight back up to the Premier League. Do any of you guys see him back in the NT anytime soon? I sure don’t.

 

Hélder Lopes (Paços de Ferreira to Las Palmas)              

I’ve talked about it here before but Hélder has been one of Paços’s most consistent performers of the last couple of seasons. The jump to a low table La Liga club seemed adequate but so far the Portuguese left back is yet to play in the Spanish top flight for a team that has been surprisingly powerful in these early stages. The season is long though, so it will be interesting to see if Lopes can win the left-back spot to the preferred Castillejo or if a loan back to the Liga NOS in January is on the cards.

 

Licá (FC Porto to Nottingham Forest)

We all know Licá’s story: brilliant couple of seasons with Estoril after climbing through the Portuguese football leagues -> getting a transfer to FC Porto, flopping completely for the Dragons -> getting loaned a couple of times all the while becoming an internet “meme”. Not pretty to see and somewhat unfair taking into account his quality. With Porto finally past him, can he bring his best self to Nottingham? Young winger Oliver Burke just left on a major deal to Leipzig and both Lica and Dumitru will have the chance to replace him.

 

Hildeberto Pereira (Benfica to Nottingham Forest [loan])

After a season in Benfica’s B side, Hildeberto joined Forest on a year-long deal from Benfica. Able to play as a winger or full-back, the 20-year old has been mainly deployed on the right side of the defense – creating all sorts of problems for the opponents with his pace and crossing capacities when bombing forward, while being physically capable to handle most wingers. Five Championship matches are under his belt already, leaving a solid impression.

 

Cafu (Vitoria SC to Lorient [€2m])

Over 60 matches for Vitoria in the last two seasons led the 23-year-old Cafú to attract the interest of a few international clubs. Lorient stepped up with an offer that the Minho side couldn’t refuse. While for some €2m was seen as an overspending by the French club, Cafu has been making 90’ over 90’, playing in all three of Lorient’s Ligue 1 losses. For the sake of the Portuguese, let’s hope the results start showing up. With that said, a 91% overall passing accuracy stat so far is a very positive factor for someone in the heart of midfield.

 

Carlos Mané (Sporting to Stuttgart [2-year loan])

With the clear necessity to thin out the squad, Jesus loaned out Podence, Iuri and Mané (when I thought only two would go). The youngster is, undoubtedly, a quality winger but seems like something is still missing – a little something he may get by stepping outside his comfort zone and spending two seasons (or maybe one), in the cold German second division. While I do believe he has the quality to be a part of a mid-lower table Bundesliga squad, I assumed this deal could unlock the return of Emiliano Insua to Alvalade. The Deadline Day ended up not giving that last gift to Sporting fans, and the youngster who was in the Olympic Squad is now part of a Stuttgart side with clear objectives to bounce straight back to the Bundesliga.

 

Afonso Figueiredo (Boavista to Rennes [€270,000])

Let me just get something through your minds really quick: the best left-backs in the Liga NOS last season (no big teams) were Lucas Lima (Arouca) and Afonso Figueiredo (Boavista). Both are quick and reliable, the first offering a bit more offensive support and the latter covering up better in the back. They were both sold to French clubs. Arouca made €1.1m with the sale. Afonso was sold for a €270,000 bargain price. Sure he hasn’t been able to play yet but… wouldn’t you risk it for so little money?

 

Miguel Vitor (PAOK to Hapoel Beer-Cheva)
After being unfairly treated in Greece – upon the new manager’s arrival, his contract renewal negotiations were thrown out despite being informed of the opposite – the ex-Benfica centre-back flew to Israel to play for the national champions. With an interesting squad, Hapoel were one goal away from the Champions’ League group stages (unfortunately Miguel’s side only won by 2 at home v Celtic, when in need of a 3 goal differential). If the Portuguese was available for the first round (that ended in a crazy 5-2), everything could’ve been different. Who else is excited to watch them in the Europa League?

 

The Wolves crew - Ivan Cavaleiro (Monaco [€8m]), Hélder Costa (Benfica [loan]), João Teixeira (Benfica [loan]) and Sílvio

Thanks to the famous Jorge Mendes connections, Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers now have 4 Portuguese professionals in their squad. Sílvio arrives in England after so many months filled with pain and injuries…whenever he gets back to playing shape, it might just be too late. And are the always aggressive English cups/Football League really the ideal places to play when you’re still fragile from an injury?

The two Benfica loanees, Costa and Teixeira, have an interesting space to shine here. English clubs have a plethora of competitions to play for and even if they’re not the first names in the line-up, they’ll be useful squad players and get a completely new experience which will help them grow as people and as players. Costa already scored in a League cup match! Straight from Monaco, Cavaleiro is definitely the “big boy” of the group. With a hefty transfer fee and Champions League experience, Ivan will need to burst into the starting eleven after the national team break.

 

The CSKA Sofia crew – Ruben Pinto (Belenenses [loan]), David Simão (Arouca), Rui Pedro (Académica), Diogo Viana (Litex) and Arsénio (Litex)

Oh you thought Wolves were the only club to bring in a Portuguese shipment this summer? No, not at all! Sofia’s CSKA brought in a total of five players, including two of the best midfielders in the Liga NOS last year. The always consistent David Simão let his contract run out with Arouca and signed a lucrative contract with CSKA, while Ruben Pinto – who was fantastic for Belenenses after arriving from Benfica – got on a last minute loan to Bulgaria. The midfielder is definitely valuable and it raises a couple of question marks around the team’s locker-room to see him go all of a sudden. 

Wingers Arsenio – who played for Moreirense – and Diogo Viana (remember him tearing it up for Gil Vicente?) both transferred from another Bulgarian side, Litex Lovec. Arsenio has scored twice in 5 matches played so far, while Viana is top of the list for goals with 4 in the same 5 matches. Impressive, huh? Will be tough for ex-Academica player Rui Pedro to fit into this attack.

 

Andre Moreira (Belenenses to Atletico [recalled from loan])
After a couple of years on loan, talented Moreira now gets a chance to learn from one of the best of the planet – Oblak.

 

Orlando Sá (M. Tel Aviv to Standard Liege)
Orlando’s back in centre Europe after a failed experience in Israel. Let’s hope he gets back into his Legia form in Belgium.

 

Ricardo Costa (Luzern) and Hugo Almeida (AEK)
Two players that not so long ago were usual national team picks…are now doing their best in the lesser European leagues. Just remind yourself of their performances for Porto and Werder, respectively. Oh, how time goes by.

 

Hugo Seco (Académica to Cherno More)

The winger who, despite his clear quality, is a lot better known for his red card in Alvalade last season, is now playing for Cherno More in Bulgaria. Consistent starts and a solid paycheque. Why not?

 

Miguel Lourenço (Vitoria Setubal to FK Zira)

Yes, we have a player representing us in Azerbaijan. No clue why either… Did the Vitoria Setúbal board throw a pin at a globe and proceeded to negotiate Lourenço where it fell?

by Tiago Estêvão