Portugal international Ricardo Quaresma says he has no intention of making an immediate response after he was subjected to a remarkable attack from the president of his club Besiktas.
Quaresma has spent a total of six season with the Istanbul outfit, but has been tipped to leave Besiktas this summer after the Black Eagles finished 3rd in the Super Lig last term.
Pedro Rebocho appears to be one of the most coveted players on the French transfer market this summer, as the Portuguese defender looks to leave relegated Guingamp.
André Villas-Boas’ Marseille are among the wide ranger of clubs being linked to former Benfica academy prospect Rebocho, with English sides such as Watford and Leicester City also suggested as possible suitors for a bargain deal to sign the €5m full-back.
Portugal’s 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup campaign will be remembered as a missed opportunity, the 1989 and 1991 winners crashing out in the group stage after a 1-1 draw against South Africa. Hélio Sousa’s side contained enough quality to go all the way, but a combination of factors resulted in an early and disappointing exit.
Having travelled to Poland to cover my first international tournament as a journalist, I am still scratching my head and trying to come to terms with Portugal’s early exit. In the following article I will offer some potential reasons why Portugal failed and what it means in the grand scheme of things.
Félix and Fernandes on the move?
As the summer opens and the football draws to a close, footballers take holidays and begin to relax. However, the intense work behind the scenes at a football club is perpetual. We take a closer look at the rigorous preparations Sporting CP and SL Benfica are making ahead of the 2019/20 Liga NOS campaign.
We will start with SL Benfica, fresh off the back of their 37th Primeira Liga title and a good run in the Europa League which saw them reach the quarter-finals. The main objectives for Benfica next season will be to retain the title and also perform better than they have in recent years in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. For this to be possible, their business in this window has to be smart, and retaining the core of this young and energetic side is vital.
Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk have confirmed the appointment of Vitória Guimarães coach Luís Castro on a two-year contract. The Portuguese replaces countryman Paulo Fonseca, who left Shakhtar to join Italian giants AS Roma earlier this week.
Castro leaves Vitória after just one season in charge, during which the team finished 5th in the Primeira Liga last term, but the 57-year-old’s reputation for developing young players and cultivating attacking football has led to Shakhtar offering the Portuguese his first coaching experience abroad.
Portugal international Vieirinha has been named PAOK Thessaloniki Player of the Year for the second consecutive season after helping the Greek club to a league and cup double in 2018/19.
The club captain won 55.75% of the supporters’ votes in the poll following an historic season in which PAOK were crowned champions for the first time in 34 years with an unbeaten campaign in the Super League.
FC Porto’s 2018/19 team is being completely dismembered, leaving the board and coach Sérgio Conceição eager to replenish the squad. So far, the departures are official of Felipe, to Atletico Madrid, and Militão, who was confirmed in April to be joining Real Madrid in the summer.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas is to retire, while right-back Alex Telles, midfielder Héctor Herrera, winger Yacine Brahimi and forward Moussa Marega are also all expected to leave the Dragão, necessitating numerous incursions into the transfer market.
Portugal triumph in Nations League tournament
For the second time in three years Portugal are the football kings of Europe.
In Episode 20, host Danny Pinto is joined by Tom Kundert to recap the Seleção’s 1-0 victory over the Netherlands at the Estádio do Dragão as Portugal capture the inaugural UEFA Nations League trophy.
Italian club AS Roma have announced the appointment of former Porto coach Paulo Fonseca as their new manager. Fonseca has signed a two-year contract at the Stadio Olimpico with the option of an additional year.
The Portuguese leaves Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk after three years with the club, during which he won three consecutive league and cup doubles.
Portugal international Gelson Martins says he has no desire to return to Atletico Madrid next season, as his future remains unsure following a six-month loan spell in France with Monaco.
Rui Almeida will be staying in French football, having swapped Troyes for the managerial position at recently relegated Caen, while Leicester City’s Ricardo Pereira is reportedly attracting the interest of Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.
“These players have worked in an exemplary manner. We don't have time to create combinations, sometimes the football isn't perfect like we want it to be, but the players believe in the coach. I thought this was the best way to win the game.”
