Official: Varandas signs Sporting starlet Porto missed out on | OneFootball

After failing to sign Jota Silva, Frederico Varandas secured the arrival of a young talent for the youth ranks of Sporting. Today, September 4, the green and whites, through their official platforms, announced the arrival of footballer Afonso Marques, coming from Académica de Coimbra.

At just 15 years old, the young footballer is leaving the academy of the “briosa” in the country’s university capital to head to Alcochete. According to the official sources of the green and whites, the youngster will, for now, join the under-17 team. Before Académica, Afonso Marques also spent time in the youth setups of AD Pedro Roma and Porto.

Speaking to Sporting’s official media, the 15-year-old did not hide his happiness about what is happening: “It’s a dream come true. It’s a huge honor.” He went on to reveal that it was the fulfillment of a personal goal: “It’s a club I’ve always wanted to represent and I’m here with great enthusiasm.”

Asked to talk about his playing style and which position he usually plays in, Afonso Marques began by highlighting: “I can play as a winger, midfielder, or forward. I’m versatile. I like the tactical side of the game, the way we press.” “I have good vision and I also finish well. My individual goal is to progress at the club, reach the first team, and make my debut,” added the young Sporting player.

Finally, the new addition to the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy revealed who has been his role model in his career, and the choice turned out to be an “internal” one: “I really like Pedro Gonçalves, because he thinks a lot about the game, he’s always in the right place, and he has great vision. I want to ask for support and I promise to always give my best.”

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