Quenda: Chelsea's 'Estevao 2.0' Showing His Claws at Sporting
While Palmeiras wonderkid Estevao dazzles against Barcelona, Chelsea's £50.78m investment in Geovany Quenda is already paying dividends during his loan spell at Sporting.
Chelsea’s Portuguese Diamond Shining Bright in Lisbon
While football pundits are still banging on about Estevao’s masterclass against Barcelona, Chelsea supporters have another reason to be cheerful about their future prospects – even if he’s currently plying his trade 1,600km from Stamford Bridge.
Geovany Tcherno Quenda, the 18-year-old Guinea-Bissau-born winger, is rapidly becoming Sporting CP’s crown jewel during what’s technically a loan spell from his parent club Chelsea. The Blues splashed a whopping £50.78 million on the teenager last season, making him the most expensive under-17 player in football history, before sending him back to continue his development in Portugal.
Record Breaker
The lad’s trophy cabinet of records is already filling up nicely:
- Became Sporting’s youngest ever goalscorer at 17 years, 5 months and 27 days (surpassing both Simao and a certain Cristiano Ronaldo)
- Now the youngest Portuguese player (18 years, 4 months, 20 days) to score in the Champions League after netting against Kairat
- Youngest Portuguese footballer (18 years, 210 days) to reach 15 Champions League appearances, beating Rúben Neves’ previous mark
Current Form
Quenda’s recent performances have been absolutely top drawer. In Sporting’s 3-0 victory over Club Brugge, he bagged another goal and assist, helping Rui Borges’ side climb into the Champions League top 8. This continued his purple patch of form – he’s contributed four goals and three assists in his last seven outings.
His versatility is proving a proper asset too. Capable of operating on either flank, he’s already racked up five goals and eight assists this season in just 1,154 minutes of action. That’s already surpassed his entire output from last campaign.
Even his teammate Francisco Trincão (formerly of Barcelona) has been singing his praises, acknowledging that Quenda could easily have taken the Man of the Match award in their recent European triumph.
World Cup Dreams
Despite already being called up to Portugal’s senior squad four times, the ambitious youngster is yet to make his full international debut. With the World Cup on the horizon, Quenda has set himself lofty targets – reaching double figures for assists and getting close to the same mark for goals.
While Sporting fans are loving every minute of his development, it’s Chelsea who’ll be rubbing their hands together most. Their “Estevao 2.0” investment is looking shrewder by the week, and when he finally rocks up at the Bridge, he might just be the dog’s dinner.