Meet Geovany Quenda: Ruben Amorim's Sporting wonderkid loved by Man Utd and Man City

Ruben Amorim has promoted an exciting prospect to Sporting’s first team this season and both Manchester clubs are taking note.

Already a scorer in the Portuguese top flight, Geovany Quenda set a new Sporting record in October by opening his account at 17 years, five months and 27 days old, surpassing Portugal legend Simao and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.

Amorim’s imminent move to Manchester United has raised questions about Quenda’s future. The outgoing Sporting manager has made no secret of his admiration for the youngster, and though the ultimate say over transfers at Old Trafford will lie with sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox, Express Sport understands that they are just as keen on the player.

Manchester City are also tracking Quenda, and with Sporting chief Hugo Viana set to become the Blues’ new sporting director at the end of the season, a direct battle could ensue between him and his current right-hand man in Portugal, Amorim.

Quenda will get the opportunity to show both Manchester clubs what he is made of in a Champions League showdown with City tonight (Tuesday).

The Portugal Under-21 international signed a contract extension in September which runs until 2027 and includes an £84million release clause. Sporting would likely accept a slightly lower fee, though there is a feeling among senior figures at the club that Quenda will one day live up to that valuation.

With hype building, who exactly is the player turning heads in Portugal?

Meet Geovany Quenda

Born in 2007, Benfica were the first big club to recognise Quenda’s talent before snapping him up in 2017. Sporting came swooping in two years later, and he rapidly progressed through their youth system.

Now a fully-fledged member of the senior side, Quenda has started eight of Sporting’s 10 Liga Portugal games so far this campaign, coming on as a substitute in the other two and scoring once overall. He has also appeared in all three of their Champions League matches.

A natural left-footer playing on the opposite flank, Quenda has primarily featured as the right-sided midfielder in a 3-4-3 this campaign, interchanging regularly with Francisco Trincao ahead of him. He can also play across the forward line.

United chiefs are likely to look upon Quenda playing such a specialised role fondly if Amorim sticks to that formation at Old Trafford.

Driving at defenders on the right and cutting inside onto his strong foot, Quenda is not dissimilar to Bukayo Saka in the way he runs and dribbles. He also retains the rawness that comes with being a bright-eyed 17-year-old in the midst of a big breakthrough.

That was evident against PSV Eindhoven last month, when Quenda delighted fans with an eye-catching display filled to the brim with neat touches and nutmegs. His defensive work has also come on leaps and bounds, which bodes well for sides intent on defending from the front.

Quenda is expected to see out the season at Sporting but the lure of the Premier League is always strong, as it proved to be for Amorim, and playing in England is understood to be one of the winger’s future ambitions.

Bernardo Silva is among the high-profile stars to have sung Quenda’s praises. “He will probably steal my place [in the Portugal side],” said the City playmaker. “At 17, I wasn’t even playing for Benfica’s youth team.”

And Amorim, who gave Quenda his big break, also has plenty of good things to say. “He’s a very talented kid,” said the 39-year-old. “Very physically robust, very focused, with his feet firmly on the ground. That’s very important for a young player. He got his chance and there was no chance to take it away, no doubt, nothing. I think he’s going to be a great player, but let’s give it time.”