José Tavares: FC Porto always one step ahead with Mateus Mide | OneFootball

Mateus Mide has ceased to be just another name in the National U-17 Team and in FC Porto’s youth ranks. After being chosen as the best player in the most recent World Cup for his age group, the forward now features prominently on the scouting reports of major clubs. Given this media spotlight, should the Dragons be concerned about possible interest surrounding the 17-year-old player? The director of youth development at FC Porto gives his answer.

“It is only natural that we see the most outstanding players from FC Porto’s youth academy become targets of interest and perhaps receive offers for their acquisition. FC Porto always works proactively in these situations, showing the players the project we have for each of them and making them understand that playing for the first team and becoming a champion depends solely on them, just as a successful career must be built on consistent and challenging steps so that everything works out for the best for them,” said José Tavares.

“His family is perfect for a football player, because they know the world of high-performance sports through his father, and they share values with FC Porto. His mentality is something that sets him apart at all times; he has a winning mentality, a very high technical level, tactical knowledge that allows him to play in various attacking positions, score goals and provide assists… Overall, he is a player of enormous class, with some abilities at the level of the truly gifted,” he pointed out.

Mide, like his national and club teammates, will be “evaluated every day based on the opportunities” he can create. “It doesn’t matter which age group he may be in; what’s important are the challenges presented to him regularly and consistently and his ability to respond to them. For us, it is natural that his development process will take place between the U-19 team, the B team, and the A team,” he said.

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