“Proud to wear this shirt” | OneFootball

The women’s team continues preparing for its debut in the First Division, and Daniel Chaves now has one more option for the 2026/27 season. Vânia Duarte has swapped Valadares Gaia for FC Porto and does not hide that “it is a source of pride to wear the shirt with my father’s family name and my mother’s number.” The 25-year-old defender says she is arriving to “be one more to help” and believes it is essential to “take it game by game, even training session by training session.” Even so, the ambition is clearly defined: “We want to be as competitive as possible.” To achieve that goal, Vânia Duarte hopes she can count on the support of the Porto fans, who are “like an extra player on the pitch.”

A happy family“It is a feeling of great happiness; it is a big Club. As soon as I heard about FC Porto’s interest, I immediately told my parents—they were the first to know. We are all very happy and excited.”

Joining FC Porto“FC Porto is a very big Club, I have many relatives who support Porto and they were all very happy. It is a source of pride to wear this shirt with my father’s family name and my mother’s number.”

The name Duarte and the number 24 on her back“Since the name is my father’s, it had to have something from my mother too. It was supposed to be number 20, but I gave her the option to choose and she picked 24.”

FC Porto’s debut season in the top flight“It means a lot to me to be here. FC Porto is a big Club, it deserves to be in Liga BPI, and I believe we are going to do a good job.”

What it was like being on the other side“I already faced FC Porto during pre-season and in the last match of last season. Whenever I played against FC Porto, I felt I was up against a strong Club with great stature, even while it was in the Second Division. I always felt a lot of support from the fans, and it was always difficult to play against FC Porto.”

Enjoying the experience“I’m coming in to be one more to help. Liga BPI is one of the biggest women’s leagues, and what I say to the younger players is to enjoy it. Above all, they should enjoy it, because not every player gets to play in a competition like Liga BPI and at a Club like FC Porto.”

With the ball at her feet, it’s a different story“I’m not the fastest, but I’m good with the ball at my feet. Free kicks, corners, anything involving set pieces is also one of my strengths.”

Always pushing down the left“I like playing on the left side, anywhere on the left, whether at full-back or further forward.”

Meeting familiar faces again in the dressing room“It helps a lot, and some of them even arrived at the Club with me. Among those who were already here, I get on very well with Mariana Azevedo, for example. I’ve already played with her at two clubs, and I’m happy to already know several players, which makes settling in easier. Mariana only told me positive things about FC Porto—that it is a big Club and very well organised in every respect.”

Goals for 2026/27“As a team, I like to take it game by game, even training session by training session. Personally, I want every training session to go well, and then it’s about fighting to win every game. We want to be as competitive as possible.”

The dream of representing Portugal“If I don’t get any closer, I will keep working. I’ve already been called up and didn’t play, but I believe this move to FC Porto can help me.”

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