A Portuguese prodigy hailed by Bernardo Silva is on Manchester United’s radar.
The Red Devils are at the beginning of another new era following Ruben Amorim’s arrival from Sporting CP. Even before his first game, against Ipswich on Sunday, the new man has already made his mark, with existing coach Ruud van Nistelrooy being shown the door.
Amorim has been followed to Old Trafford by his trusted coaches from Sporting, and it would be no surprise to see him return to his former club for playing talent. Striker Viktor Gyokeres, fresh from his hat-trick against City in the Champions League, would be an obvious target.
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Meanwhile, it would be no surprise if a lesser-known youngster was on Amorim’s wish-list after doing something even Bernardo couldn’t manage during his time in Portuguese club football. Wide man Geovany Quenda became the club’s youngster-ever goalscorer in October by opening his account at 17 years, five months and 27 days, surpassing Portugal legend Simao and a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.
Amorim has made no secret of his admiration for the teenager, who is now a prime transfer target for United as a replacement for Antony, who could be moved on in January, reports the Daily Star.
“He’s a very talented kid,” said Amorim of Quenda. “Very physically robust, very focused, with his feet firmly on the ground. That’s very important for a young player.
“He got his chance and there was no chance to take it away, no doubt, nothing. I think he’s going to be a great player, but let’s give it time.”
Bernardo is among those to have sung Quenda’s praises, predicting he will “steal” his place in the Portugal team one day. The City playmaker once said: “He will probably steal my place [in the Portugal side]. At 17, I wasn’t even playing for Benfica’s youth team.”
He could possibly take his place at City, who are also believed to be tracking the youngster, with sporting director Hugo Viana on his way to the Etihad from Sporting next summer.
Benfica were actually Quenda’s first big club before he was snapped up by Lisbon rivals Sporting in 2019, becoming part a star of the club’s Cristiano Ronaldo Academy. He has integrated into the first-team squad this season, primarily playing as a wing-back in a 3-4-3 formation.
