David Vinhas: “Pinheiro was the hero, could’ve been at FC Porto…” | OneFootball

Rodrigo Pinheiro experienced a huge moment at the Dragão, stopping, already near the end, a Porto win that had seemed to be on track and sparking Famalicão’s celebrations at one of the toughest grounds in the country. The right-back, who is putting together a high-level season, scored his third goal of the campaign, but also became the target of unwanted noise on social media, experiencing firsthand the reaction of some less gracious fans to the professionalism of any athlete. With a long connection to FC Porto through the youth ranks and a highly regarded reputation, the defender has established himself at Famalicão and dispelled any doubts about his competitive ability.

Someone who understands this delicate moment well is David Vinhas, a friend and former teammate at Vitória and FC Porto, from the youth teams to the B side. The current U. Santarém centre-back praises the Famalicão defender’s progress. “He has been very good over these past two years; anyone who knows him is aware of his quality on the right or the left, of how comfortable he is on either side. He is very adaptable, reads the game well,” he says, seeking to counter the most unfair criticism that ended up hitting a player in the middle of making his name. “This goal makes anyone who crossed paths with him happy, because he is going through a great spell both individually and collectively. But it also hurt me a little and was painful for the fans. But that’s football—he spent many years at FC Porto and gave everything for the club. He had to leave to experience another stage,” explains Vinhas, former captain of the Dragons’ youth team, stressing the “heat of the game” in the way he views the incident. “It was very tight and he celebrated naturally, also because the team is on a great run. Some people think he disrespected the stadium. But no, only some more upset fans took it out on him. If the match hadn’t been so heated, maybe he wouldn’t have celebrated so passionately; it’s not something that should be used to condemn a player. The great league campaign he is having deserves emphasis,” he argues.

The praise comes naturally. “FC Porto fans recognize his quality and, deep down, would like to see him return one day. He could be a great addition, on the right or the left, just like Martim Fernandes. He would add a lot and would be very welcome,” he says, seeking to frame what was both celebration and drama, depending on the shirt. “He was his team’s hero and it must have been a unique feeling. Happy for his team, while knowing he could have been at FC Porto if he had had other opportunities. Famalicão, as we have seen, was the best thing that could have happened to him, especially because of their commitment to young players,” says David Vinhas, describing a player with ambition for bigger things. “Rodrigo is an extraordinary person and on the pitch he has the great quality of linking up with teammates, especially with the winger and inside midfielder on his side. He combines very well, drives inside and can also get down the outside, and he is useful in one-twos as well. He has improved a lot defensively and has matched up well against the league’s wingers. He completely shut down Pietuszewski.”

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