All 27 Sporting academy players to debut under Ruben Amorim, including £35m star and new Man Utd target

Add as preferred source on Google

New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim will be tasked with continuing one of the club’s great traditions, academy football.

The pathway from Manchester United’s academy to the first team has been the cornerstone of the team’s success through the decades. More than 250 players have made the step up.

New manager Ruben Amorim will be tasked with continuing this. Former manager Erik ten Hag brought 23 Ajax players into his first team, and seven Manchester United talents up from Carrington.

Ruben Amorim has a great track record – helping even more young players from the Sporting academy into their first team.

In total he has brought 27 players in to make their debuts. Find out about every single one.

• READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Man Utd’s head coach – Ruben Amorim

1) Eduardo Quaresma

• Date: 4/6/2020
• Age: 18
• Where is he now: The young centre-back is still under contract to Sporting, having since been out on loan at Tondela, and German side Hoffenheim. He played 30 games for Sporting last season.

2) Nuno Mendes

• Date: 12/6/2020
• Age: 17
• Where is he now: Nuno Mendes established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting left-backs, and was called up by Portugal. Paris Saint-Germain paid his release clause to sign him for £35 million in 2022.

3) Tiago Tomas

• Date: 1/7/2020
• Age: 18
• Where is he now: Tiago Tomas was another academy product to make his Sporting debut after football resumed after lockdown. The Portugal under-21 striker went on to make 66 appearances, before being sold to Wolfsburg for £6 million in 2023.

4) Joelson Fernandes

• Date: 1/7/2020
• Age: 17
• Where is he now: Promising winger Joelson Fernandes only ended up playing four first team games. After a stint on loan at Swiss side Basel, he signed in 2023 with Turkish side Hatayspor.

5) Daniel Braganca

• Date: 27/9/2020
• Age: 21
• Where is he now: After stints on loan at Farense and Estoril, Ruben Amorim handed midfielder Daniel Braganca the chance he had been waiting for. Now 25, he has gone onto make 122 appearances for Sporting.

6) Goncalo Inacio

• Date: 4/10/2020
• Age: 19
• Where is he now: Goncalo Inacio is arguably Ruben Amorim’s biggest success story. The centre-back became a key player in both of his title-winning team, and often linked with a move to Manchester United. He is a Portugal international with 185 Sporting appearances to date.

7) Dario Essugo

• Date: 20/3/2021
• Age: 16
• Where is he now: Ruben Amorim made Dario Essugo the youngest ever debutant in Sporting history when he gave him his debut. Now 19, he the midfielder is currently out on loan at Spanish side Las Palmas.

8) Tomas Silva

• Date: 19/5/2021
• Age: 19
• Where is he now: Tomas Silva only ended up making the one appearance under Ruben Amorim. The right-back was sold to second tier club Vizela, and now plays for Polish side Jagiellonia.

9) Joao Goulart

• Date: 15/10/2021
• Age: 21
• Where is he now: Centre-back Joao Goulart made his way through Sporting’s academy teams into the first team, but only played seven minutes for the club. He is currently playing for top flight side Casa Pia.

10) Nazinho

• Date: 28/11/2021
• Age: 18
• Where is he now: Academy left-back Nazinho was brought in as a potential understudy to Nuno Mendes, and made his debut in the Champions League. But he was sent on loan to Belgian club Cercle Brugge, who activated a £1.5m option-to-buy in 2024.

11) Goncalo Esteves

• Date: 18/12/2021
• Age: 17
• Where is he now: Sporting snapped up Esteves for their academy under Amorim, and the manager gave him an opportunity in the first team five months later. He went on a series of loan spells and was sold to Udinese in 2024.

12) Geny Catamo

• Date: 29/12/2021
• Age: 20
• Where is he now: After making his professional debut in the lower leagues for Amora, Sporting bought winger Geny Catamo for their B team. Catamo has gone onto make 57 first team appearances, and has 28 international caps for Mozambique.

13) Rodrigo Ribeiro

• Date: 9/4/2022
• Age: 16
• Where is he now: Ruben Amorim gave Rodrigo Ribeiro his debut in a Champions League knockout game against Manchester City, at just 16. The striker subsequently had a brief loan at Nottingham Forest, and has a release clause of almost £70 million. Currently on loan at Portuguese side AVS.

14) Abdul Fatawu Issahaku

• Date: 13/8/2022
• Age: 17
• Where is he now: Sporting beat Premier League teams to sign Ghanaian wonderkid Abdul Fatawu Issahaku. He went into the club’s academy initially, before Ruben Amorim decided to integrate him into the first team. The winger signed with Leicester City on a permanent basis this summer after a loan.

15) Jose Marsa

• Date: 16/8/2022
• Age: 18
• Where is he now: Jose Marsa was originally in Barcelona’s academy before making the switch to Sporting’s. Ruben Amorim handed him his professional debut. He was sold to Belgian side Mechelen in 2024.

16) Matheus Fernandes

• Date: 22/8/2022
• Age: 18
• Where is he now: Promising central midfielder Matheus Fernandes made the progression from Sporting’s academy to the first team. He signed with Southampton on a permanent deal in summer 2024.

17) Chico Lamba

• Date: 22/8/2022
• Age: 19
• Where is he now: A regular for Sporting’s B team, centre-back Chico Lamba only made one appearance for the club. He was sold to Arouca in summer 2024.

18) Chermiti

• Date: 15/1/2023
• Age: 18
• Where is he now: Teenage striker Chermiti scored three goals in 22 appearances for Sporting, prompting Everton to snap him up in 2023 for around £7 million.

19) Afonso Moreira

• Date: 12/8/2023
• Age: 18
• Where is he now: Young winger Afonso Moreira has just made one appearance for Sporting so far, but still has a chance to play more in the future. He is currently out on loan at Gil Vicente.

20) Mamede

• Date: 11/9/2023
• Age: 21
• Where is he now: Italian born winger Mamede made one appearance for Sporting in a Europa League group stage game. The Sporting academy product now plays for Estrela da Amadora.

21) Rafael Nel

• Date: 11/5/2024
• Age: 18
• Where is he now: Rafael Nel made his debut in the Europa League in the knockout rounds against Young Boys, as a substitute. The Portugal under-20 striker is remains with the B team.

22) Miguel Menino

• Date: 11/5/2024
• Age: 21
• Where is he now: Former Portugal youth international Miguel Menino has only made one appearance for Sporting currently. He is currently still part of the B squad.

23) Diogo Pinto

• Date: 11/5/2024
• Age: 19
• Where is he now: Young goalkeeper Diogo Pinto was brought in to make his debut at the end of last season with the league already won. He has since returned to the B squad.

24) Francisco Silva

• Date: 18/5/2024
• Age: 18
• Where is he now: Another young goalkeeper, Francisco Silva made his debut the week after Pinto. The Portugal youth international is very highly rated.

25) Geovany Quenda

• Date: 9/8/2024
• Age: 17
• Where is he now: Geovany Quenda is being tipped as the next sensation to come through the Sporting ranks. He has even been linked with a move to Manchester United, before the Amorim move came about.

26) Bruno Ramos

• Date: 18/10/2024
• Age: 19
• Where is he now: B team centre-back Bruno Ramos featured as a starter on his debut in a cup victory over Portimonense.

27) Lucas Taibo

• Date: 18/10/2024
• Age: 18
• Where is he now: The final academy debutant under Ruben Amorim at Sporting. Young centre-back Lucas Taibo played the final minute against Portimonense.