YOU’LL never get past ‘Speed Wall’.
That’s the nickname Sporting Lisbon fans have given rising star Eduardo Quaresma, who has emerged onto the scene this season.
The talented centre back, 19, is a distant relative of Brazil legend Zico.
And his all-action displays since making his debut in 2020 have alerted a number of Europe’s top clubs to the next top talent to come out of Portugal.
Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Juventus, Inter and Atletico Madrid have all been linked with moves for Quaresma.
Last year, AC Milan were unsuccessful with a bid of around £5million plus Uruguay left-back Diego Laxalt for the wonderkid.
However, now clubs who want him will have to pay much more – since he signed a new contract with Sporting that’s set his release clause at a whopping £41million.
EARLY STARTER
Born in Portugal, Quaresma began playing football at the tender age of three with lower league club G.D. Fabril.
By six, Sporting discovered him and he worked his way through the ranks – with his leadership qualities praised by his coaches.
At schoolboy level, Quaresma captained both Sporting and Portugal until he was invited to join the first team in 2019.
It was during preseason in the 2019-20 campaign that he really began to turn heads.
His performances saw him promoted to the U23’s indefinitely, and the 6ft 1in centre back was a regular until the Covid-19-enforced break halted youth football.
But, senior coaches had seen enough to be convinced Quaresma was ready for a crack at the first team.
NEW REGIME
The arrival of coach Ruben Amorim, 36, back in March saw Quaresma’s pathway to the first team mapped out.
Keen to promote talent from a famed academy that has produced the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Joao Moutinho and Ricardo Quaresma (no relation), several youngsters were handed their opportunity.
Alongside Nuno Mendes, 18, Joelson Fernandes, 17, and Tiago Tomas, 18, Quaresma was thrust into the first team.
His debut came back in June in a 2-2 draw away to Vitória S.C.
Incredibly, from never making a matchday squad, Quaresma soon became a starter six weeks later playing on the right-hand side of a three-man defence.
ATTRIBUTES
His biggest attribute, and the clue is in his name, is that he’s blessed with pace.
Although he stands at 6ft 1in, his slight frame means he lacks a bit of physicality to mark a target man.
And he’s not just quick in the sprint. Quaresma reads the game beautifully and is able snuff about danger before it happens.
As is the norm with most centre backs today, he is also comfortable bringing the ball out from the back,
Sporting have high hopes that they will be able to keep Quaresma for the long term, but money talks.
It might be soon that this Lisbon cub grows into a lion elsewhere.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
