Is Ricardo Quaresma in the form of his life?

Is Ricardo Quaresma in the form of his life?

That FC Porto and Portugal winger Ricardo Quaresma is one of the most extravagantly talented footballers to ever play the game, there is little doubt. However, until recently the feeling remained that he never hit the heights he could have, owing to an overly selfish playing style and/or a lack of football intelligence.

But all the signs are that “Harry Potter” has found a hitherto elusive maturity and peace of mind that is allowing him to at last fully harness his genius for the good of the team. Maisfutebol journalist Pedro Jorge da Cunha explored the idea in an article entitled: “Quaresma: the prodigy who learned to be a team player”.

PortuGOAL provides a translated and abridged version of the article.

 

Metamorphosis. Transformation. Nobody knows exactly where it started, but everybody can see it.

“For the first time in his career Quaresma does not feel the need to be the team’s prodigy. They’ve managed to convince him to be a team player.” So says João Nuno Coelho, sociologist and specialist in behavioural observation and analysis.

This does not mean that Ricardo Quaresma no longer has the ability to win games on his own. His recent displays show this very much remains the case. What’s different is his attitude and his reactions in relation to the other squad members and the choices made by the coach. 

Was his behavioural change triggered by the reprimand from Julen Lopetegui in Lille? In that match the Spanish coach sent on Quaresma in the 88th minute, leaving him just enough time to show his obvious displeasure, and the Porto manager did not like it. The matter became a constant topic of debate in the press in subsequent weeks, with Lopetegui giving the “Mustang” little playing time.

“Lopetegui adopted a different approach. I remember Quaresma’s first spell at Porto, until 2008. Only Co Adriaanse managed to keep him in check. Jesualdo was different, he understood that he had a special personality, and was more benevolent,” adds Coelho.

Jesualdo’s assistant coach in 2006/2007 was Carlos Azenha, and he explains in more detail how the player was man-managed.

“There’s no point hiding the fact that Ricardo was irreverent. But let me make one thing clear: he always worked hard. All footballers are selfish, Ricardo was too, but we were able to take advantage of this irreverence and selfishness. His performances for us were amazing, Jesualdo knew how to deal with him.”  

It’s an opinion shared by former Porto team-mate André Castro, now at Kasimpasa in Turkey. 

“The idea people have about him is unfair. He was always an excellent team-mate to have in the dressing room. Okay, so he’s irreverent and eccentric yes, but also an excellent friend and an example to follow when it comes to working hard. I was one of the youngest players in the squad and he always helped me.”  

When asked about Quaresma’s  performances in 2014/15, Castro says: “Before he was more inconsistent. He does everything more naturally now. And nobody is better at crossing and providing assists.”

His former coach Carlos Azenha, agrees, saying that of Porto’s impressive array of wingers in the current squad, Quaresma tops the bill. “He’s the biggest reference point of this FC Porto team. And he’s the best winger in the squad, even including Brahimi and Tello.

“Tello is a speedy and direct winger; Brahimi is great at dribbling, but he always cuts inside to shoot or look for a combination play. Quaresma has all the skills: he dribbles, he’s still fast, he goes on the outside, cuts inside and is the only one who constantly crosses to the centre-forward. For Jackson it’s much easier playing with a winger like Quaresma.”   

All three interviewees in this article are unanimous when it comes to one aspect. “Quaresma’s technique could have taken him to the top of the world, and won him the Ballon d’Or”. 

The metamorphosis is ongoing. And Bayern are coming to town.

 

RICARDO QUARESMA’S CAREER AT FC PORTO 

2004/05: 44 games (31 as a starter)/7 goals, 2911 minutes 
2005/06: 39 games (34 as a starter)/5 goals, 2799 minutes 
2006/07: 36 games (36 as a starter)/8 goals, 3043 minutes 
2007/08: 39 games (37 as a starter)/11 goals, 3401 minutes 
… 
2013/14: 24 games (22 as a starter)/9 goals, 1904 minutes 
2014/15: 35 games (20 as a starter)/7 goals, 1945 minutes  * 

* season unfinished

 

Article reproduced with kind permission of Maisfutebol. Translated and abridged version by Tom Kundert

Original author: Pedro Jorge da Cunha

Original article - Quaresma: o prodígio aprendeu a ser «só mais um»