João Fonseca: Mourinho’s pick for Porto v Benfica, what to know | OneFootball

José Mourinho called up four central defenders for the classic match against Porto, counting for the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup, scheduled for Wednesday at Estádio do Dragão. The absence of Nico Otamendi, suspended, and the physical doubts surrounding António Silva opened the door for a new name on the list: João Fonseca. The young central defender has been a constant presence in the first team training sessions and earned the coach's trust for one of the most demanding matches of the season.

António Silva returns to the options after missing the matches against Estoril and Sp. Braga due to a right thigh injury, although Mourinho admits that his condition is still not ideal. In this scenario, João Fonseca's call-up gained strength.

Born on August 31, 2006, João Fonseca began his journey at Águeda before joining Benfica's Training and Development Center in Aveiro in the 2017/18 season. A year later, at just 12 years old, he moved to Benfica Campus, where he quickly stood out. Still a minor, he became an undisputed starter in the under-23s and started knocking on the door of the B team, confirming his status as one of the greatest defensive promises of the club.

A young international for Portugal, Fonseca made his debut for the B team on August 25, 2024, against Vizela, at just 17 years old. His sustained development also led him to the first team's bench during the visit to Juventus in January 2025, in the Champions League. His consistent performance in the youth ranks and Liga 2 motivated the renewal of his contract until 2030, a clear sign of the club's investment in his potential.

In the current season, João Fonseca has played 19 matches between the under-19, under-23, and B team, being a starter in 14 of the 17 Liga 2 rounds. He stands out for his comfort in ball distribution, tactical awareness, and competitive maturity. Despite admitting the "dream" of debuting for the first team, the young defender maintains a calm demeanor, emphasizing the importance of "taking it step by step" and keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

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