Quenda in tears before Chelsea move: "Sleepless nights" (video) | OneFootball

said goodbye to Sporting in tears, in an emotional interview with Sporting TV, before heading to Chelsea. The 18-year-old winger will leave Alvalade this summer after seven seasons wearing the lion on his chest and made a few revelations.

“It still hasn’t sunk in. I think it will only really sink in when I actually start wearing another club’s shirt. But everything happened very quickly,” began the young Portugal international, who was keen to highlight Sporting’s importance in his personal and professional growth.

“Sporting played a very important role in my life. It helped me grow, and I know it will always be part of my life. It’s hard to forget Sporting. The people will always be by my side, they will keep helping me, and I will always try to listen,” Quenda added, before recalling an episode from the youth ranks that ended up shaping his path.

“Coach Aida Ramos told me that we had to make a lot of sacrifices. And she gave me that advice on a day when I had misbehaved at school. I was punished and missed the under-15 game against Benfica. That has stayed in my head to this day,” revealed the Sporting winger.

Saying goodbye to the Academy turned out to be one of the hardest moments for the young player. “There were nights when I couldn’t sleep. I even messaged coach Aida at those hours. It was hard saying goodbye to a club that helped me and my family so much,” he admitted, emotional.

“I kept thinking about what it would be like to leave a club that gave me practically everything. It helped me and my family. What they did for me will always stay in my mind. I have no way to thank Sporting enough. Thank you for the help, for the way they treated my parents so well. That is very important,” he stressed.

Quenda also recalled the first goal he scored against Porto, admitting that moment will stay with him forever. “It was like living a dream. I’d say all the sacrifices were worth it to try to help my family. Nowadays, I can say it was worth it,” he said.

“I will always carry Sporting’s fans in my heart, and I can only thank them for everything they did for me”, concluded the young winger, who is now preparing to begin a new stage of his career away from Alvalade, at Stamford Bridge.

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