David Vinhas: “Rodrigo Pinheiro was their hero, he could be at FC Porto…” | OneFootball

Rodrigo Pinheiro experienced moments of huge prominence at the Dragão, as he halted, already near the end, a Porto victory that had seemed to be on track and sparked Famalicão’s celebrations on one of the toughest stages in the country. The right-back, who is putting together a season of a very high standard, scored his third goal of the campaign, but also ended up being the target of unwanted noise on social media, feeling firsthand the reaction of some less courteous fans toward 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 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 development. “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 fully establishing himself. “This goal makes happy those who crossed paths with him, because he is in a great spell individually and collectively. But it also hurt me a little and it 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 live a different chapter,” explains Vinhas, former captain of the Dragons’ youth team, emphasizing the “heat of the game” in the way he views the incident. “It was very tightly contested and he celebrated naturally, especially because the team is on a great run. Some think he disrespected the stadium. But no, only some more upset fans took it out on him. If the game had not been so heated, maybe he would not have celebrated so emphatically; it is not something that can be used to condemn a player. The outstanding 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 an excellent addition, on the right or the left, just like Martim Fernandes. He would add a lot; he would be very welcome,” he assures, trying 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. As we have seen, Famalicão was the best thing that happened to him, especially because of its commitment to young players,” says David Vinhas, as he describes a player with ambition for greater heights. “Rodrigo is an extraordinary person and on the pitch he has the great quality of linking up with teammates, especially with the winger and the interior player on his side. He puts together great combinations, drives inside and can also appear on the outside, while also being useful in one-twos. 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.