Benfica Youth
The biggest names in Portuguese football are without a doubt the big three – Sporting, Benfica, and Porto. Those three are the ones who have won the most, as well as have produced the big name talent now playing around the world, names like Figo, Ronaldo, Quaresma, and Nani. Not just Portuguese players either, but as well as many other youth players that later on play at various clubs.
But there is a problem, at least for me, with a certain club. That club is Benfica and how they handle youth players. Looking at Sporting, it has one of the best youth academies in the world, without a doubt. Producing the players above as well as countless others now playing in Sporting or in teams around the world. They have a fantastic track record of producing quality players. Sure not all of them make it big at Sporting, but there are many that still do well at lower league teams, bringing their skill and knowledge with them. Just looking though at the first team, players like Rui Patricio, captain Dani Carrico, Andre Santos, Diogo Salomao, Cedric, they are all youth players now in the first team. Many like Bruno Pereirinha and Adrien Silva are on loan, possibly on a permanent basis but the fact still stands, many are given that chance to shine.
Looking at Porto the same stands, the amount of players that have passed through their ranks that started in the youth teams. Vitor Baia, Domingos Paciencia (and his son, now a youth player), Fernando Couto, and many others. Even today players like Ukra, Andre Castro and Hugo Sousa are all given chances to prove themselves. Sure a lot are on loan such as Andre Pinto and Dani Candeias but they are still with the club, have at least gotten a taste of the first team. It isn’t to say that they won’t be sold like Helder Barbosa or Ramon Cardenas but compared to Benfica many remain or even parting with the club they remain strongly connected to it.
I feel with Benfica, we do not give many youth players chances. We sold Silvio, a wonderfully talented player, to Braga. He is now a first team regular. Miguel Lopes, on loan to Betis from Porto, also sold. We’ve sold many talented youth to other teams. The ones not sold seem to remain on loan for long periods of time, gaining playing time and experience but not the chance to show what they do know at Benfica. Fabio Faria, acquired from Rio Ave at the end of last season has played a handful of times and has shown that he is a good player. Yes it is hard to insert oneself in a team where both center backs are captain and vice-captain, but the fact of the matter remains, he isn’t given as many chances as he can be. Same with Roderick, though I feel he is one that will without a doubt, shine at Benfica. Other players I feel have talent and should be at least given pre-season chances are David Simao and Nelson Oliveira both on loan to Pacos Ferreira. Nelson has scored quite a few goals, something really positive since this is his first time really being at a big name team and being a starter. David is a great defender with a lot of potential. I also really am fond of Andre Soares, on loan to Servette in Switzerland. He has the potential to be a great striker but I am not sure if he will be brought back from loan or not. Same with Miguel Rosa on loan at Belenenses, I really hope he is also given a trial. The last player I really hope is given a chance, and one I do think will, is Ruben Pinto, playing for the Benfica youth team. If you have a minute, check out some of his videos at sapo.pt. He’s a phenomenal player at only 16.
I realize Benfica cannot give every single player a chance, the would be impossible, but it would be nice to see more players either training with the first team, going on pre-season, etc. It not only allows them to give themselves a chance at impressing the coach but it allows them to talk to first team players, gain advice, tips, and more knowledge to improve their game. Even if they do part with the club like man have, they can take what they have learned and apply to their playing style and really make a name for themselves. Many have been brought back during the summer and I can only hope that the same happens this summer. I know that our squad is already quite full but we don’t know what will happen, if any players are sold or get injured (god forbid) so it is nice to have those youth players that could really make a difference and eventually be a part of the team, just like Rui and Nuno were. I feel it is very important. I can only hope that Jorge stays and really creates a wonderful team, not only with foreign and domestic, but as well as players that came up through the ranks.
