Spotted by Mourinho, star could follow same path as Benfica’s gems | OneFootball

Gonçalo Moreira could very soon be another name launched by José Mourinho. At a time when the midfielder has been catching the eye in the secondary team of Benfica, all signs point to it being just a matter of time before the 20-year-old Portuguese player gets his first minutes with the main squad.

According to the newspaper Record, despite having a spot virtually secured for pre-season, Gonçalo Moreira may still make his debut in 2025/26, joining names like Ivan Lima, Rodrigo Rêgo, Tiago Freitas, José Neto, Daniel Banjaqui, and Anísio Cabral, all of whom were given their debuts under the Special One.

The most prominent, however, are the three athletes who won the Under-17 World Cup in 2025. Both Neto, Banjaqui, and Anísio have already had several opportunities with the main squad, with the number 72 having the most impact, scoring two goals in 28 minutes. Gonçalo Moreira could follow in the footsteps of these players.

However, it wasn’t just that trio who stood out. Ivan Lima was Mourinho’s first project, but the player has since moved to Poland. In the meantime, Rodrigo Rêgo became a player considered by the Special One, starting in two matches, against Atlético CP (Taça de Portugal) and Nacional (Liga Portugal Betclic). Tiago Freitas, despite a more modest presence, can take pride in having made his debut in the Champions League, in the victory over Napoli (2-0).

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

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