ON THIS DAY: In 2004, Chelsea signed Ricardo Carvalho from FC Porto.
— Squawka (@Squawka) July 27, 2022
◎ 135 Premier League games
◉ 95 wins
◉ 63 clean sheets
◉ 70.4% win percentage
The Blues conceded just 15 Premier League goals in his debut season. ? pic.twitter.com/wTU5hAuHWe
In a domestic competition that attracts some of the best foreign talent, some of Portuguese football’s finest stars have stood out in the Premier League over the years. The list below is by no means exhaustive – just think of Diogo Jota turning out for a massive club like Liverpool, or Pedro Neto leading the Portuguese contingent at Wolves.
Portuguese players have generally delivered in England
Portuguese players have tended to deliver for Premier League sides. Of course, there are examples where moves for Portuguese players haven’t quite worked out, but for every Hélder Postiga, there’s a good few Bruno Fernandes’. The captain of Manchester United, a side today’s football odds have priced at 16/1 to make the top four and a club that tends to dominate the headlines and podcasts discussions, Fernandes is one of United’s key players. He isn’t the only Portuguese success story, though.
In fact, there have been numerous examples of players from Portugal achieving notable success in England. The aforementioned Jota will be looking to do exactly that come the end of the current campaign, with his Liverpool side being priced at 11/10 when looking at Premiership title odds. The attacker has had numerous YouTube videos featuring his undeniable skills, he’s a dedicated professional that fans take to, and he’s a joy to watch when injuries aren’t interrupting his progress. Other Portuguese players have also made an impression.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the most talented Portuguese import
When most football fans think of Portugal’s greatest ever talents, Cristiano Ronaldo immediately springs to mind. After making his debut for Manchester United in August 2003, Ronaldo’s potential was evident. He subsequently went on to become one of the world’s best ever players and one of the Premier League’s most iconic stars.
Taking the No.7 shirt vacated by David Beckham also came with numerous pressures, but Ronaldo took it in his stride. In fact, he even managed to become the first player ever to be named FIFA World Player of the Year while playing in the Premier League. Not bad for a £12.5m wonderkid from Sporting.
Ricardo Carvalho was a rock for Chelsea
After winning the Champions League with José Mourinho’s Porto, it was clear that the Portuguese manager would take Ricardo Carvalho with him to Chelsea. The steady defender is now regarded as one of the Premier League’s finest ever centre-halves after forming a formidable partnership with John Terry.
Calm on the ball and having excellent positional sense, Carvalho was a key part of Chelsea’s record-breaking defence that conceded just 15 goals in 2004/05. For many Blues fans, Ricardo Carvalho is one of Chelsea’s most influential foreign additions.
Luís Boa Morte was a consummate professional
A REMINDER:
— Football Remind (@FootballRemind) July 5, 2016
Luis Boa Morte ( @luisboamorte11 ) gave Fulham victory over Jose Mourinho and Chelsea in 2006. pic.twitter.com/d0HQRwjkW9
Although Luis Boa Morte didn’t always compete at the top end of the table, he was well-liked at almost every club he turned out for. A left winger with blistering pace, he had a solid Premier League career spanning 13 years. It began with a title-winning season at Arsenal during his breakthrough years, only for the Portuguese professional to move on in search of regular first-team football. It’s at Fulham where he is adored the most, though, with Cottagers fans regarding him as a club legend.
Nani was a joy to watch
While it was almost impossible to match Cristiano Ronaldo’s achievements at Old Trafford, Nani certainly came close. A pleasure to watch when on song, the Sporting CP academy graduate suffered from inconsistent spells at times, but he still managed to produce some memorable moments playing for Manchester United. Nani won nearly every trophy possible, including the Premier League and the Champions League.
More Manchester hits: Bernardo, Rúben & Bruno
The above-listed players were among the trailblazers for Portuguese footballers in England, but the trend has not waned since then. On the contrary, no doubt owing the success of players like the initial quartet on this list, the demand for Luso talent has only increased in recent years. Manchester is a huge football city and it is there where we find three of today’s best Portuguese footballers plying their trade.
City duo Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias have played huge roles for arguably the world’s finest club side in the last five years, Manchester City. Over at neighbours United, despite the club’s struggles since the departure of legendary coach Alex Ferguson – the man responsible for bringing Ronaldo and Nani to England – Bruno Fernandes has proven a brilliant acquisition, ascending to the captaincy of the team.
