Nel shines at Sporting, but Benfica let him go after eight years | OneFootball

Rafael Nel celebrated his 21st birthday in special fashion with his first start for Sporting and a goal in the 4-2 win over Santa Clara. The striker’s story began at Benfica, where he spent eight years in the academy, playing mainly as a defender.

At 13, feeling limited and undervalued in that position, he told the club’s officials that he wanted to play further forward. The decision ultimately led to his early departure from the Eagles, paving the way for the transformation that would come to define the young striker’s career.

After leaving the Eagles, Nel moved to Belenenses, where he quickly stood out. In just two years at under-14 and under-15 level, he scored 14 goals in 23 matches, showing that the centre-back had made way for a goalscorer. His performances caught the attention of clubs such as Porto, Braga and even a regretful Benfica, but it was Sporting who ultimately secured his signing for Alcochete.

Rui Borges has praised the striker’s intelligence, competitive commitment and link-up play. Frederico Luís, a coach who worked with Nel at Belenenses, highlighted: "He has always been a player with great potential… he has the profile of a player for a big club, not only because of his quality, but above all because of the way he competes and the maturity he shows," he told newspaper 'A Bola', underlining the attacker’s talent.

"In an environment like Sporting’s, the demands are daily, and he shows characteristics that fit well at that level. In addition, throughout his journey, he has shown the ability to respond in the most demanding competitive moments, without feeling the pressure, often with positive performances and even goals."

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