Portuguese international Manuel Fernandes left the country of his birth in 2006 at the age of just 20, heading to the English Premier League with Portsmouth. The midfielder has since spent 17 years playing abroad, but with retirement in sight, Fernandes has eyes on a late homecoming before hanging up his boots.

Once tipped as a future superstar when coming through the ranks at Benfica, the now 37-year-old recently finished a stint in Iran – the latest stop in a fascinating career which has also taken in Spain, Turkey, Russia and Greece as well as England along the way.

Jorge Jesus ended Fenerbahçe’s 9-year wait for a trophy by delivering the Turkish Cup on Sunday, after which he immediately announced he will leave the club.

Jesus signed a one-year contract when taking charge in Istanbul last summer, with speculation gathering pace in recent weeks that he would be open to offers elsewhere this close-season.

As club football prepares to take a well-earned rest in Europe, it’s that time of year to consider which players deserve some extra recognition for their performances. Portuguese footballers can be found the length and breadth of the continent and as usual their presence at the highest level is extraordinary.

Reflecting on what has perhaps not been a vintage campaign of goalscoring by Luso players (this is probably the first time in over 15 years Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t make the XI) we put together a Team of the Season containing our finest Portuguese representatives overseas in 2022-23.

Bernardo Silva has been a title winner at Benfica, Monaco and Manchester City. He has won domestic cups in Portugal and England, while forming part of a triumphant 2019 UEFA Nations League-winning squad when donning the colours of his country.

For all of the success that he has enjoyed down the years, the humble playmaker has never been considered a superstar in any of the sides that he has graced. For one reason or another, there has always been somebody else stealing the limelight and headlines.