Official! Benfica sign keeper after 6 years in Sporting goal | OneFootball

Benfica have announced the signing of Patrick Moreira, a 16-year-old goalkeeper who will now join the Eagles’ Under-18 junior squad. The young shot-stopper arrives at the Luz from Alverca, a club he represented over the last two seasons. Before that spell, he began his journey at Tenente Valdez, before going on to wear the shirts of Caneças, Santa Maria and Sporting.

Speaking to BTV, Patrick Moreira explained that choosing Benfica represents the fulfilment of a longtime dream. "I chose Benfica also for family reasons. It is a club I have dreamed of playing for since I was very young, and it is the club of my heart," he said. Last season, the goalkeeper made 13 appearances for Alverca’s under-17 team.

Aware of the demands he will face in this new stage, Patrick Moreira admits that the adaptation period will be challenging: "I think it will be a somewhat difficult adaptation because of the age group and the level of demand in the matches, but everything can be overcome with hard work and dedication," he said.

The youngster also highlighted the importance of the atmosphere at the club for his development. "It is important to have good coaches and a good relationship with teammates and with the entire coaching staff," he stressed. Patrick Moreira describes himself as a "consistent, hard-working" goalkeeper who never gives up in the face of difficulties.

At first, the goal is to earn his place and get competitive minutes. "To earn playing time. As it is my first year at Benfica, it will be difficult, but nothing is impossible. It will be a tough adaptation, but always with the same goal: to reach Benfica’s first team and then the national team."

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.