Over the recent years it has become more and more apparent that the Bwin Liga has become a breeding ground for some of the most talented players. Fans of the Portuguese league have seen players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Anderson, Luis Figo, and Rui Costa grace their pitches over the years. The common theme with all of these players is that the have jumped ship to play in bigger European leagues.
Of the so-called “Golden Generation” seven players moved to bigger Europeans leagues. Rui Costa, who incidentally was named by Pele as one of the greatest one hundred and twenty five living footballers, travelled to Italy where he became a legend at Milan and Fiorentina.
Luis Figo, who is arguably one of Portugal’s best ever players, decided to ply his trade in the neighbouring country of Spain. While playing in La Liga he did the unthinkable of moving from Barcelona to Real Madrid, although it was for a world record transfer fee.
Another superb export of Portuguese football Paulo Sousa, also followed suit and went to play abroad, with clubs such as Juventus and Inter Milan.
This trend of leaving childhood Portuguese teams behind for the Glamour of big league football has transcended to the younger Portuguese players. Recently we have seen the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Simao, and Ricardo Quaresma. These extremely talented players have all travelled to the richer leagues around Europe. In all fairness I think Ronaldo may have made the right decision, collecting accolades like they were going out of fashion. The most recent export is Pepe who went to join Real Madrid
The trend looks set to continue with Sporting Lisbon the latest to be raided for their prized processions. Joao Moutinho and Miguel Veloso both are linked with a host of Premier League teams. Veloso has even been linked with a big money move to Bolton Wanderers. Portuguese football must be in an extremely bad state.
It is alarming to see how the once superior Portuguese sides are losing their prized assets year after year. Almost a year after Jose Mourinho’s Porto side won the Champions League their team was almost completely sold off. Some of the players followed the manager to Chelsea, with other being scattered across the cream of European football. South Americans, most of them Argentinean, now dominate the Porto team. The “special one” ushered Portuguese football towards a glamorous and successful future, but like the players before, he made a big money move to a bigger European move.
The loss of key players is apparent in the quality of the Portuguese sides with only one reaching the quarterfinals of the Champions league and one side left in the UEFA Cup. If you were to ask any English whom they wanted in the draw of the Champions League Porto would feature heavily. The Portuguese sides are no longer feared, maybe because we have all of their players.
If the likes of Benfica and co could shake off the tags of becoming a selling club then certainly they would be a force to be reckoned with especially within the Champions League. Benfica used to be a team to be fear of. They have reached the final of the Champions Cup seven times, winning it twice. Three years ago they beat Liverpool, at Anfield two nil, and they beat Man United two one a year before that.
The reason for all of their home-grown stars fleeing the Bwin Liga surely cannot be purely financial. The way Chelsea were held to ransom when purchasing Ricardo Carvalho and the eccentric full back Paulo Ferreira, suggests they don’t exactly need the money.
The standard of domestic football must be the key reason. The average football fan probably couldn’t name half the teams in the Portuguese league. Unless they retain the services of their key players then the current trend looks set to continue, but at least the bank balances of the clubs will look healthy even if the state of the football isn’t.
Written by Tom Leeder
I think the case is similar with Holland and France too now, unfortunately the top European teams and clubs are always calling.
I think money is a huge part of it, but also the fact that maybe these Portugese players aren’t far from clubs such as Real Madrid and Barcelona and it’s their dream to play there.
It would be interesting to see where Portuguese clubs would be now if they could hold on to their players. To be fair, they sell a top star for a lot of money and then go out and buy a second tier South American – it’s the food chain of football of which Europe wins and South America, at club level, loses.
France and Hollabnd especially have always been selling leagues. How could anyone be suprised that Portuguese teams sell their top players, they haven’t got many big, rich clubs in their league, others have more, add it up…