As the 2023/24 club season nears with European competitive qualifiers already underway, which Portuguese players need to prove their place among the heralded elites? Who faces the greatest professional challenge?
Aside from impressing Roberto Martínez, many of Portugal’s most talented have much work to do asserting themselves as key players in their respective squads. Others have vacated the European continent entirely, moving to Saudi Arabia. And what of Manchester City’s Champions League winning duo, Bernardo Silva and Rúben Dias?
Nathan Motz is with us again to provide talking points as Portugal football supporters get prepared for the exciting season ahead.
João Félix – Did you honestly expect anyone else to top this list? Again the Atletico Madrid playmaker has generated bad press by revealing his desire to play for club rival Barcelona. But to his credit, he is still very much in the conversation. His talent is enough to keep him there. What is it with him? Is it low confidence, is it lady problems?
Perhaps we should rewind a bit before evaluating the challenge he will face in this club season - no matter which club he ends up at as Manchester United join potential suitors.
It’s August 15th, 2022, the first match of the La Liga season. In 83 minutes João Félix has registered three assists, and surely declared his intent to live out the hereunto fantasy of football domination which many insisted was in him. Simeone praised his 126 million Euro signing. Expectations were never higher.
The precipitous fall from grace which ensued hardly bears repeating for the dedicated readers of this website: 1 goal and zero assists in the 17 matches that followed, his time on the pitch being reduced to mere scraps. Sent to Chelsea, red-carded in his very first match, and just four goals in 20 matches as Chelsea finished 12th in the Premier league.
It is hard to envision a more dissatisfying outcome for a player once regarded very near Haaland and Mbappé in career potential. Even those outside Portuguese football were charmed. It is difficult now to conceive of a scenario in which Félix ever reaches anything like the very high ceiling for which he seemed destined.
But to provide a more positive spin, even though he has the most to prove, Felix made a poor decision moving to Atletico and a new club environment could radically change his fortunes. When you have sunk as low as he has in the last two seasons, the only way forward is up.
“Yeah but will he became the Ballon d’Or competitor we all thought he would be?” I don’t know. Nobody does. But you have to think this kid is leaning hard into the task ahead. A season which will either renew his ascent into superstardom or be the final nail in the coffin of a perennial underachiever.
Rúben Dias – I know, I know. How does this guy need to prove himself exactly? At 26 years old, Dias may become one of the most decorated Portuguese players ever if he stays at Manchester City. But while he was winning titles under Guardiola last season, I took a closer look at his appearances with Portugal and came away underwhelmed.
Dias lives a double life. No, not that kind of double life. He is two different players in one body. For Manchester City, he is the champion, the alpha, the strength of a side which has a lot of finesse players.
With the Seleção, it is not that Dias lacks intensity nor is it that he lacks commitment. You can see he cares. What you can also see is that he is positionally unsure. Tactically confused. He puts himself about never knowing where exactly he can best serve the rest of the backline. Rather than an anchor, he has at times been a deadweight. Harsh perhaps, but when you consider how badly some of Portugal’s young centrebacks need him as a role model, I do not think it is unfair.
It is not the first time a Portuguese player has been accused of being better for his club side than for the national team. But in his case, it is extremely worrying for supporters that, with Pepe very near retirement, he is the only world class centreback Portugal have. And he’s underperforming routinely.
Say what you will, Dias has to show up this year for Portugal. Winning the Champions League is a fantastic achievement, but if anything it only increases expectations. Teammate Bernardo Silva can probably relate. The difference being Bernardo was often played out of position under Fernando Santos and is now improving rapidly. Dias needs to learn from Bernardo how to endure the tempest of supporter criticism and bring his best football to the Seleção. We need this guy, let’s all hope he’s up to the challenge.
If only Pepe would stay young forever…..
Palhinha – I can hear your thoughts….”Nathan, now you've lost it!” He only proved himself one of the most outstanding midfielders in the Premier League last season. What more could he possibly need to do?
And you might be right, but I think he has more. With good size and a real edge about him, Palhinha needs to prove he is not a mid-table club talent. In his favored destroyer role, he excels. But versatility is perhaps the core characteristic demanded of the modern midfielder. A player who can control matches not only with physical dominance but intricate passing and smart decision-making.
For Palhinha to make the leap, he needs to learn how to control a match from deep. That’s what made other greats in his position – Pirlo immediately comes to mind – stand out amongst their peers. Control. Yes, Palhinha can shoot and pick pockets. But recycling possession and even scoring goals are not enough to be declared world class.
Looking at the Seleção, the No.6 role is his for the taking. With Rúben Neves now out to pasture in Saudi Arabia, and William running hot and cold at Real Betis, Palhinha seems like the future for the next 2-3 tournaments. And let us face facts: Neves just does not have the defensive ability to cover a back four. He has vision and an excellent long ball, but in the modern game this is simply not good enough.
With guys like Florentino Luís improving year-by-year, Palhinha needs to refine his playmaking and jump to a more prestigious club in the process. While you might argue other Portugal players have set their ambitions too high and suffered for it, Palhinha is much older and may now face the threat of having set expectations too low. That needs to change.
Gonçalo Ramos - This is a big season for the 22 year old. In Benfica's title-winning 22/23 campaign, Ramos' 19 goals were second in the league with far fewer penalties taken. Twenty-seven goals plus an impressive 12 assists in all competitions, and the metrics are there indicating the emergence of Portugal's next great No.9.
And that is precisely why Ramos needs to bear down and prove last season was just a hint of things to come. The Cristiano Ronaldo era goes on in part because Ronaldo is still scoring goals but also because Ramos is still searching for consistency with Portugal. Unlike others, such as Rafael Leão, he has received far fewer opportunities. That will take time.
On the club scene, a big move is inevitable. It might even happen before this season kicks off, but I think it is more likely at the end of this season if he maintains form. As always, that will be a risky time. Let us never forget what happened when André Silva left Porto. But it is essential Ramos stays in the present and continues dominating the Primeira Liga and improving in the Champions League. Let the problem of choosing the right club remain where it is: in the future.
Ramos is in a very talented, well-managed side. Everything is in his favor. But if he struggles out of the gate, questions will be asked. How will he handle the mental tax of becoming a hot commodity in European football? Can he unseat Ronaldo and lead Portugal at Euro 2024? Those are some big questions being asked of such a young guy.
Renato Sanches – You all knew I could not finish this article without talking about Renato. Who among us has not mourned, if not openly wept, about the career meanderings of Renato Sanches?
With rumor having it he is Roma-bound, what exactly does he need to do? At the galactic clubs – Bayern and PSG – let us be real and confess that even when fit, which was rare, Renato was not able to express himself in a way which accurately reflects his ability. Carlo Ancelotti once said of Renato that he had more strength on the ball than any player he had ever witnessed.
So what is it then? Is it really that Renato just can’t stay fit? Or something else?
For my part, I see more. Renato has made club commitments which genuinely do not suit him, we all know that. When he has found his niche, like at Lille in 2019-2022, things improve quite a lot. Yes, the injury problems are a huge concern, but Renato clearly needs a favorable club environment.
Can Mourinho and Roma provide that? Yes and no. Portuguese players historically have underperformed in Italy with some notable exceptions like Rui Costa – but Rui Costa was notably exceptional in almost everything he did. Renato’s talent is more than enough to succeed, but his adaptation to the style of football being played in Italy is going to be a huge factor. Serie A is more competitive now than it has been in decades. Roma supporters have higher expectations of their club than usual too. That means pressure.
Still, Mourinho loves himself a rugged midfielder. See Nemanja Matic, for example. I just get the sense Renato will get a lot of support and encouragement to be THE guy in central midfield. Of course, that’s going to mean high expectations, but at this point in his career what is there to lose?
And hopefully he’ll realize he is still only 25 and has a lot of football left to play in his career. I think Roma could be a good fit – if he stays healthy. There’s pressure, there’s prestige, there’s opportunity. But Roma are not Galacticos either.
Anyone who loves Portugal needs to remember Renato Sanches in their prayers. Because if he ever gathers himself together and hits form, there are few players in world football who can live with him. Renato needs to set reasonable goals and prove he can reach them. Mourinho will absolutely strengthen his mental fortitude. But the onus is on Renato to deliver results.
Força Seleção.
by Nathan Motz
