Benfica starlet set for game time under Mourinho next season, find out who | OneFootball

Gonçalo Moreira has been impressing in Benfica’s B team and, in doing so, is putting pressure on José Mourinho to give him a chance in the first team. The coach already pointed out in September that he greatly appreciates the 20-year-old, but so far, he has only called him up to work with the main squad with some regularity.

According to information from the newspaper Record, the “Special One” plans for his debut in the first team to still happen before the end of the season, and it is practically guaranteed that he will have a place in the pre-season that the Eagles will hold in the summer.

Gonçalo Moreira is the player in Benfica’s history with the most goals scored in the UEFA Youth League (13), a record he can still surpass, considering that the Eagles are still competing this season. Diogo Gonçalves and José Gomes, with 11 goals, held the record until this season, showing that Gonçalo has a remarkable goal-scoring instinct for a player who operates in the midfield.

It’s worth remembering that José Mourinho admitted to having a “soft spot” for the player and, in just his third game since returning to Benfica, took him to the substitutes’ bench against Gil Vicente. The forward ended up not coming on and making his debut for the first team, but the coach continues to keep a close eye on the youngster and a new opportunity to be called up may be on the way.

This season, Gonçalo Moreira – valued at 1.2 million euros – has already played a total of 31 official matches: 20 in the Segunda Liga, seven in the UEFA Youth League, three in the Premier League International Cup, and one in the Liga Revelação. In the 1,950 minutes he has spent on the pitch, the footballer has recorded 17 goals and 10 assists.

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