João Fonseca named in Mourinho’s Benfica squad for Porto quarter-final | OneFootball

João Fonseca, a 19-year-old centre-back who regularly trains with Benfica’s first team, has been named in the squad to face Porto in Wednesday’s Taça de Portugal quarter-final at Estádio do Dragão.

According to Glorioso 1904, José Mourinho has called up four centre-backs for the tie, with Fonseca included. Nico Otamendi is suspended, and António Silva, who missed Estoril and Sp. Braga with a right thigh injury, returns, though Mourinho admits his condition is not ideal.

Born on 31 August 2006, Fonseca started at Águeda before joining Benfica’s training centre in Aveiro in 2017/18. A year later, aged 12, he moved to the Benfica Campus and quickly stood out.

Still a minor, he became a regular starter for the under-23s and began pushing into the B team, underlining his status as one of Benfica’s most promising defenders. He is a Portugal youth international.

Fonseca made his B team debut on 25 August 2024 against Vizela at 17, then reached the first-team bench at Juventus in January 2025 in the Champions League. His progress prompted a contract renewal until 2030.

This season he has 19 appearances across under-19, under-23 and B sides, with 14 starts in 17 Liga 2 rounds. He stands out for composure in possession, tactical reading and maturity, while stressing steady progress and keeping his feet on the ground.

Source: Glorioso 1904