From Sporting to the Premier League and shining at Alverca: «Vini Jr.? We both play with flair»

With magic at his feet and boundless energy in his legs, Chiquinho is a pure talent—the kind of player naturally blessed with every attribute a game-changer needs. Developed at Sporting, a title winner with Estoril, and having plied his trade in England and Spain, he is now shining for a second consecutive season at Alverca. The Portuguese winger opened up on various topics in an exclusive interview with A BOLA.

— Just like last season, Alverca's best moments seem to run through you. Do you feel right at home?

— I feel great. I was welcomed with open arms, and that always makes a big difference. When that happens, things naturally start to click, and over time they only get better.

— In 2025/2026, an injury kept you sidelined for a spell, yet you still finished the campaign with 20 appearances, two goals, and four assists. Despite that setback, do you see it as a positive year?

— I'm working to have an even better season than the last one. That's my main target. Off the pitch, I do everything I can to prepare so that during training and matches, I'm always at my best to help the team.

— Alverca returned to the top flight after more than 20 years and are now in their second straight season among the elite. Can we say the club has firmly established itself among the big boys?

— Yes. The club has the right people in charge and has brought in the right players. Combine that with the right mindset, and success becomes much easier to achieve. Our primary goal is staying up, but we always strive to improve on what came before. The setup is young and ambitious, and when you have people like that, progress is inevitable. Everyone shares the same focus and hunger.

— The club's ownership group includes a global superstar in Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior. Have you met him in person?

— A few players have been in touch with him. I had contact right at the beginning, when I was deciding whether to join Alverca...

— ... Was that decisive in your choice? Or at least significant?

— I'd say maybe around three percent. He has his own life and is focused on his career. I put my trust in the people on the ground who reached out to me back then—Pedro Alves [general director] and Custódio [then head coach].

— All comparisons aside, on the pitch can we draw parallels between you and Vinícius Júnior, given you both play in the same position?

— [Laughs] I'd say we're both daring players who love having the ball at our feet and aren't afraid of taking opponents on one-on-one. We thrive going forward and breaking down defenses.

— How far can Alverca go?

— The goal is always to go as far as possible. We know it's a long, tough road because there are well-established sides in the league, but hard work pays off. Nobody can outmatch our desire. From the very first minute of the week, we put in the work to beat our upcoming opponents. We're never satisfied with doing the bare minimum; we always want more.

Chiquinho's first venture abroad was in England, joining Wolverhampton Wanderers midway through the 2021/22 season. During his time on British soil, he also featured for Stoke City, before later testing himself in Spain with Mallorca in 2024/25. Having experienced two of Europe's top leagues, the inevitable question arises: Premier League or LaLiga? His answer was clear: «Given my style of play, I prefer the Premier League. But I understand why others might prefer LaLiga—they're two completely different competitions.»

«The English league is intensely competitive; bottom of the table can beat top on any given day. That balance runs right through the league. In Spain, on the other hand, the usual suspects always have the upper hand,» the winger explained.

A player's future can change in an instant, often when least expected. So we put the challenge to the Portuguese winger: if an offer arrived from a club in one of Europe's top-five leagues, what would he choose?

«I would always prioritize the Premier League. Playing there is a dream. Of course, it isn't always possible, but every player could benefit from experiencing that brand of football and that culture, even away from the pitch. Over there, players are major cultural figures, regardless of the club they play for. They impact people's everyday lives. That's the role footballers hold in society. But what you can never compromise on is fighting for all three points—that's what makes the fans proud,» he explained.

Born in Cascais and with Cape Verdean roots, the Portuguese winger spent the bulk of his youth development at Sporting before finishing his academy days with Estoril and Tondela. What memories does he cherish from his time at Alvalade?

«Good and bad, but that's football. It shapes you into the person you become. Overall, it was a great experience—I learned a lot and I'm grateful,» he confessed. When pressed on the summer transfer speculation linking him with a return to Sporting, he added: «I can't delve into that, but that's how football works. My goal is to keep raising my level. Any club that presented the right project for me would be one I'd be open to speaking with.»