The Latest Promising Talents Emerging From Sporting CP's Cristiano Ronaldo (Alcochete) Academy
Bitesize player profiles covering the latest Sporting Clube de Portugal academy products to keep an eye out for.
Eduardo Quaresma - Written in May 2025
Geovany Quenda - Written in October 2024
Name: Flávio Ferreira Gonçalves
Age and Nationality: 17-years-old - French/Portuguese dual-nationality
Height and Weight: 173cm - 60kg
Position: LW/RW/10
24/25 Stats: Sporting B (Debut Season) + U23 & U19 - 34 appearances, 10 goals, 2 assists
National Team History: Portugal U18s - 11 appearances, 2 goals, 2 assists
Mini Pedro Goncalves.
One of the most technically proficient talents in Alcochete right now.
Elite in tight spaces, divine close-control, body and ball manipulation. Decisive in the final third, excellent execution and mature decision making. Incredibly composed and assertive in the decisive moments.
Tactically intelligent, perfect hybrid winger/midfielder profile mirroring his namesake. Born half-space operator.
Physically developing (becoming more robust, absorbing challenges and holding his own in individual duels).
Gabriel Serôdio Silva
18-years-old - Portuguese
176cm - 68kg
#9/Shadow 9
Sporting B & UEFA Youth League - 31 appearances, 10 goals, 5 assists
Portugal U18s and U19s - 12 appearances, 8 goals, 5 assists
Modern forward suited to shadow-striker responsibilities.
Fluid and dynamic in link-up play, drops deep with frequency and intelligent movement to attract defenders, provoking fluid combinations.
Technically refined, prolific varied finisher.
Presses effectively.
Deceptively agile, stretches the backline and attacks vacant space.
Lacking elite physical qualities to assert dominance aerially and can be outmuscled.
Denilson Correia Gonçalves Tavares Santos
18-years-old - Portuguese
174cm - 68kg
Left-Sided Defender
Sporting B & UEFA Youth League - 20 appearances, 3 goals, 2 assists
Portugal U16s to U18s - 28 appearances, 2 goals
A criminally underrated talent resembling some raw characteristics of Nuno Mendes.
An intense, physically impressive, marauding full-back.
All the tools necessary to be really threatening down the flank. Constant protagonist in vertical, fluid, rapid combinations. Good ball-carrier.
Imposing/aggressive in duels.
Diogo Martins Travassos
21-years-old - Portuguese
176cm - 71kg
Left and Right Sided Full-Back
Liga Portugal - 26 appearances, 1 goal, 1.88 (54.5%) dribbles completed per 90
Portugal U18s to U20s - 14 appearances
Versatile full-back with leadership qualities. Persistent player with a great engine, 1x1 ability and press resistence. Transports the ball with speed and intent.
Shone at Estrela da Amadora after two long-term injuries. Strong tackler and defender with great intensity and responsibility.
Integration into Sporting’s first-team for 25/26 pending.
João Simões - written pre-injury, in December 2024.
Eduardo Manuel Freitas Monteiro Ferreira Felicíssimo
18-years-old - Portuguese
186cm - 73kg
Defensive Midfielder/Central Defender
Liga Portugal - 6 appearances (68% of duels won)
Portugal U16s to U19s - 39 appearances, 5 goals
Known as 'El Profesor' for his great reading of the game and natural ball-playing ability. Graceful, elegant on the ball, assertive and aggressive when necessary off the ball.
Natural Morten Hjulmand successor, capable of slotting into the defensive line where he played most of his football this season.
Henrique Miguel Sousa Arreiol
20-years-old - Portuguese
187cm - 82kg
Defensive Midfielder
Liga 3 - 19 appearances (Sporting first-team debut made this season)
Portugal U16s to U20s - 8 appearances
Born leader. #6 with touches of a seasoned #8.
Captain material, constantly scanning, communicating, organising and temporising proceedings.
Unforgiving in ball recovery, with underrated ability to escape pressure in ball transportation and passing ability.
Madeiran-born talent with the individual agression and build of João Palhinha with the organisational skills, hints of the temporisations and intelligence of Morten Hjulmand, coupled with a touch of Manuel Ugarte's style of progression.
Rafael Silva Camacho
18-years-old - Portuguese
172cm - 62kg
Central Midfielder (#8)
Sporting B - 2 appearances, 1 goal
Portugal U15s to U18s - 8 appearances
Talented playmaker with an extensive, complete passing range and great vision as a smooth, confident ball-striker. Effective from distance.
Diminuitive stature (172cm) compensated by intelligent body utilisation.
Tempo controlling #8 w/o huge deficiencies. Back on track post injuries, instrumental at U19 level.
Afonso Bastardo Moreira
20-years-old - Portuguese
176cm - 72kg
Winger (predominantly left-sided)
Sporting B - 30 appearances, 9 goals, 2 assists
Portugal U17s to U20s - 24 appearances, 7 goals, 1 assist
Grounded, dynamic, irreverent agile winger.
Injuries/failed loan spell brought him back to Sporting B (men against boys).
Constant 1x1 threat with impressive off the ball movement. Capable of playing on both sides of the attack - more decisive on the right.
Energetic and vertical - capable of playing as a wing-back.
João António Nascimento Muniz
20-years-old - Portuguese/Eligible for Brazil
191cm - 76kg
Central Defender
Sporting B - 13 appearances, 2 goals
Portugal U17s to U21s - 27 appearances, 1 goal
The heir to the throne of Gonçalo Inácio.
Natural ball-player with an incredible passing range. Maturing in his defensive actions, constantly showing great antecipation and reading of the game. Could be more aggressive as a wide defender.
After a disappointing loan spell at Rio Ave (zero appearances), Muniz is back on the up.
Diego Callai Silva
20-years-old - Brazilian/Eligible for Italy
190cm - 88kg
Goalkeeper
Sporting B - 12 appearances
Excellent shot-stopper with bags of potential. Incredible reflexes and reactions.
Slightly lacking in other areas (command of area, control of defensive line, sweeping, claiming crosses) and somewhat error prone. Recurring theme with Alcochete 'keepers.
Patience is key.
Chris Ivan Grombahi
16-years-old - Ivorian
172cm - 67kg
Left-Footed Winger
Sporting U19s - 22 appearances, 2 goals, 1 assist
Following in the footsteps of Geovany Quenda.
Technically gifted, explosive winger who prefers to place his finish. Speed of execution, overall pace and control at full speed is impressive.
Typical Sporting winger, agile and tricky. Decision-making can improve (typical).
Manuel Ascenção Bebiano Mendonça
20-years-old - Portuguese
172cm - 65kg
Central Midfielder (#8/#10)
Sporting B - 40 appearances, 8 goals, 8 assists
Portugal U17s to U20s - 32 appearances, 4 goals, 1 assist
Natural box-crashing midfielder. Great vision, passing range, close control and ball striking. Relatively ambipedal.
Evolving physically, defensively and mentally to the standard of Liga 3 from youth football. Defensively aware.
When on form, the inspiration of Sporting B.
David Miguel Madeira Moreira
21-years-old - Cape Verde
171cm - 68kg
Left-Sided Defender (Full-Back)
Sporting B - 21 appearances, 3 assists - 1 first-team appearance
Cape Verde - 1 appearance
Matheus Reis regen.
Versatile and dependable left-sided defender who is more capable than his height would suggest.
Complete defender with a great long ball and ability to instantaneously burst forward carrying the ball.
Sandro Daniel Gambôa
16-years-old - Portuguese
181cm - 61kg
Defensive Midfielder
Sporting U19s - 14 appearances
Portugal U16s to U17s - 8 appearances
Promising lighthouse #6 profile.
Impressive passing range and vision coupled with capacity to control tempo and organise phases of play. Cuts passing lanes well with great antecipation.
