Young Portuguese coach António Oliveira has only been in charge of Brazilian club Athletico Paranaense for around three months, yet during that time Athletico have competed in four competitions and played 32 matches in a grueling fixture schedule.

Oliveira, who was on the technical staff last year, was promoted to first-team coach ahead of the 2021 campaign in what is his first leading role. At 38, the son of Benfica legend Toni has enjoyed an impressive start in Curitiba and remains on course to challenge on all fronts.

Gonçalo Paciência is back at Eintracht Frankfurt ahead of the upcoming Bundesliga season, and for the ex-Porto striker there is little doubt the new campaign represents a pivotal moment in his career.

Paciência spent last season on-loan with fellow German top flight side Schalke, who were relegated following a humiliating year in which they won just three matches. For Paciência, just one league goal from nine starts as injury issues resurfaced, leading to over four months out with a knee problem.

It’s been a frustrating six months for João Félix. Things appeared to be on the up for the former Benfica star early last season as he picked up the November Player of the Month award in La Liga following a string of dazzling performances for Atletico Madrid.

But injury marred the second half of the season for Félix, he came in for extreme criticism from former Manchester United skipper-turned-pundit Roy Keane at Euro 2020, and as soon as the tournament ended he went under the knife for an operation to fix a long-standing ankle problem. 

Portugal defender José Fonte has signed a new contract with Lille, tying himself to the French champions for at least another season.

The 37-year-old’s deal at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy expired at the end of June having captained Lille to the Ligue 1 title. Fonte has been at the club for three seasons and was an almost ever-present last term, missing just two league matches as Christophe Galtier’s side beat Paris Saint-Germain to the championship.