Ricardo Quaresma: The unlucky talent
When 17-year-old Ricardo Quaresma made his debut donning the traditional green and white of Sporting CP, many touted him to become ‘The next big thing’ in Portuguese football. Few even believed that he would replace the legendary Luis Figo in the Portuguese national team. Yet, a career that looked very promising, ended up becoming one of the biggest disappointments of the footballing world.
Quaresma joined the Sporting CP B side in 2000, at the age of 17 and was an instant hit. His consistent performances for the Sporting CP B side impressed then first team manager, Laszlo Boloni, who then decided to give Quaresma a chance to prove himself at a bigger stage. Quaresma went on to play 27 games in his first season with the first team and found the back of the net thrice. He also played a key role in helping his team win the Portuguese League as well as the League cup. Sporting then failed to replicate their spectacular performances in the following season, as a result of which an unsatisfied Quaresma handed over a transfer request.
A lot of European clubs were interested in acquiring the services of the talented Portuguese and in the end Barcelona succeeded in signing him for a fee of 6 million pounds in 2003. His time with the Catalans wasn’t quite as it was expected to be as he failed to regain his form from Sporting. He started only 10 games for the Catalans, with as many substitute appearances and scoring only once. His stay with the Spanish giants came to a quick end when he injured his right foot and also fell out with then manager Frank Rijkaard.
The rebellious winger handed out a transfer request, again in 2004 and this time around he decided to return to Portugal and join F.C.Porto, who had been crowned Portuguese Liga champion and had also won the treble for the first time in the 2003-04 season under the guidance of then manager Jose Mourinho. The move seemed to favour Quaresma, with the winger scoring on debut against Valencia in the UEFA Super Cup tie and also against arch rivals Benfica in the Portuguese Super Cup. Quaresma started improving over the season and gradually rediscovered his old self.
Quaresma had begun to take the Portuguese league by storm. He was the last player full backs wanted to face. The incredibly agile winger dribbled the ball so well that the defenders found it really hard read him and keep pace with him. Quaresma’s skills with the ball saw him being compared to his Portuguese compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, who was establishing himself with Manchester United in England at that time. Yet, Quaresma’s performances in the blue and white jersey of Porto earned him mixed responses.