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Portugal: Quaresma taking centre stage

/noticias.info/ Over the past decade and beyond, Portuguese football has boasted an embarrassment of riches as far as attacking midfielders are concerned.

With the likes of Deco, Luis Figo, Simao Sabrosa, Luis Boa Morte and Cristiano Ronaldo all performing with aplomb, newcomers were always going to find a national term berth hard to find. Long labelled as the Selecção das Quinas' next big thing, Ricardo Quaresma has found his path blocked and his development hampered in the face of such stiff competition for places. Now, at the age of 23, he is determined to make up for lost time.

The patience shown by the FC Porto wide man is bearing plentiful fruit. For almost a year now, Quaresma and the Dragons have been in irresistible form. Portuguese champions in 2005-2006, the blue-and-whites are on course to retain their title courtesy of a five-point lead over their nearest pursuers at the midway stage. Moreover, the 2004 winners are enjoying similar success in the UEFA Champions League, overcoming a nervous start to emerge from a group containing Arsenal, CSKA Moscow and Hamburg to reach the Round of 16.

The common factor behind these two masterful campaigns? The wing wizardry of one Ricardo Quaresma. "I'm on top form and I'm going to keep working hard to maintain this level (of performance)," declared the man himself after being voted Portugal's Player of the Month for November. "I'm just doing my best to help my team win football matches." He certainly is, weighing in with five goals as Porto have stormed to 12 wins from 14 league games thus far.

Dashing wing play and spectacular skills aside, the darling of the Estadio do Dragao fans has also proved himself to be a man for the big occasion, netting vital strikes against fierce rivals Benfica (in a 3-2 win) and Sporting (in a 1-1 draw). Courtesy of these exploits, he appears to have finally replaced the departed Deco in the hearts of the Porto faithful.

A magical nickname, a disastrous year
Ever since making his top-flight debut as a raw 18-year-old, Ricardo Andrade Quaresma Bernardo has struggled manfully to bear the weight of expectation loaded on him. A native of Lisbon, the young attacking midfielder came through the ranks at local club Sporting and, having broken into the first-team squad during the 2001/2002 campaign, made his first appearance for Os Leoes (The Lions) against current side FC Porto.

His talent, skill on the ball and mazy dribbles quickly saw him dubbed the 'Harry Potter' of the Portuguese league. Sporting proceeded to win the 2002 league and cup double and, like Figo before him, the young Lisbon-born magician caught the eye of the scouts from Spanish giants Barcelona. Quaresma signed for the Catalan club in the summer of 2003 but was not to enjoy the same success at the Camp Nou as his much-feted elder.

Used sparingly by Frank Rijkaard, he started just ten games, scoring only once. "I want to make a name for myself at Barcelona, but no one can prove their worth if they are not given a chance," he lamented at the time. "For a young player like me, knowing that your coach believes in you is the most important thing. But I don't know what the problem is, as he doesn't talk to me!"

To further compound his misery, a late-season foot injury saw the talented Portuguese miss out on the summer's international competitions. After watching the UEFA European U-21 Championship, UEFA EURO 2004 and the Olympic Football Tournament from his living room, Quaresma left Barca to return to his native land with FC Porto.

The northern club had recently won the 2004 UEFA Champions League, although the loss of charismatic coach Jose Mourinho and a host of key players (Deco, Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho) saw them lose their domestic crown to bitter rivals Benfica in 2005. The Encarnados would not enjoy bragging rights for long, with Porto bagging the following season's league and cup double. Quaresma played a key role in the blue-and-white revival, notching five goals in 31 league games and being voted player of the season.

Europe in his sights
Nevertheless, Luiz Felipe Scolari opted to do without the services of the FC Porto winger for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. With Ronaldo, Simao, Boa Morte and Figo sharing creative duties in wide areas, the Brazilian-born national team coach's decision to omit the rising star was vindicated with the team's fourth-place finish.

Quaresma now appears to have put the disappointment behind him, and has enjoyed an explosive start to the 2006-2007 campaign. Playing like a man on a mission, he looks determined to prove that his talent could have taken the Lusitanians still further on German soil. Comfortable on either flank, he is currently wreaking havoc among opposing defences, much to the delight of his Porto team-mates and the club's supporters. "I love playing with freedom, running at opponents and hitting them where it hurts," explains the extravagantly gifted young winger. However, he does admit to a small Achilles heel in his technical armoury: "I do prefer to shoot with the outside of my right foot, because I trust it more than my left foot."

Quaresma's natural ability, combined with the no-nonsense style of Helder Postiga and the technique of the Argentine Luis Lucho Gonzalez, has enabled Porto to take charge on the domestic front while realistically dreaming of more European glory. The 2-0 win secured in Moscow over CSKA, with Quaresma scoring one and setting up the other, and the draw against the Gunners have added further weight to the Dragons' cause. "The win in Russia was crucial," Quaresma explains. "We've got better and better as the Champions League campaign has progressed and we've really shown what a good side we are. Now, our target is to keep working hard and go as far as possible in Europe."

Their next destination in Europe's premier club competition will be London, where they will face big-spending Premiership champions Chelsea. Coached by a certain Mr Mourinho, you can be sure that the progress of such an exciting young talent will not have escaped the Portuguese trainer's eagle eye.

All in all, it represents a huge test for Quaresma, and a golden chance to prove that Portugal's eternal "next big thing" is now a genuine superstar. notas_de_prensa_archivo