Sporting's next signing likened to João Neves: he's a special player | OneFootball

Bruno Relvas, team manager of Atlético’s under-19s, believes that Catarino Pascoal has characteristics that make him similar to João Neves. Although he is careful to point out the differences between the two, he feels that Sporting’s next signing shares several qualities with the PSG midfielder, especially in terms of intensity and his ability to cover different areas of the pitch.

“Allowing for the obvious differences, we’re talking about a player profile very much along the lines of João Neves,” he told the newspaper Record, also describing him as “a very dynamic player” and “a hard-working box-to-box midfielder.” The official from the Alcântara club believes that the move to Sporting represents an important opportunity.

“Rui Borges may look at him as a different kind of player, depending on the options he has available,” says Relvas, also recalling that the player has already taken part in two training camps with Portugal’s under-19 national team. In his view, the transfer could open new doors, especially since “with this move,” he believes the 18-year-old footballer “will enter the group of players eligible for final call-ups to the national teams.”

What stands out most, moreover, is his personality and ability to overcome challenges: “What sets him apart is, without a doubt, the mental side. He is a resilient, focused kid with an extraordinary ability to respond to adversity.”

The Atlético team manager highlights the player’s growth in maturity and professionalism in recent years: “I felt a huge difference when he moved up to Liga 3. He became much more careful in that regard.” He now believes the midfielder is fully committed to his career, even going so far as to say that “he even deprives himself of what, socially speaking, is the life of a young adult, in order to focus strictly on the professional side. I truly believe he can go on to shine at other levels.”

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