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

Gonçalo Moreira could soon be another name launched by José Mourinho. At a time when the midfielder has been making waves in the secondary team of Benfica, it seems only 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 practically secured in the pre-season, Gonçalo Moreira might 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 launched with the baptism of the Special One.

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

However, it's not just this trio that stood out. Ivan Lima was Mourinho's first project, but in the meantime, the player moved to Poland. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Rêgo became a key piece considered by the Special One, registering two starts against Atlético CP (Taça de Portugal) and Nacional (Liga Portugal Betclic). Tiago Freitas, despite a more modest presence, can take pride in having debuted in the Champions League, in the victory against 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 was 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.