ADAM WOODHOUSE AUGUST 27, 2012
Sporting Lisbon’s youth academy has supplied some of Europe’s most talented footballers over the years, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo and Nani all graduating from the Estádio José Alvalade.
In more recent times the Lisbon club have relied on the transfer market to bolster their squad, but last season they found yet another talented midfielder progressing through their famed academy.
Joao Carlos Teixeira – who turned 19 in January – put in a string of impressive performances for the Portuguese club in the NextGen series, including a goal-scoring performance at Anfield as Sporting’s youngsters outclassed their Liverpool counterparts to win 3-0.
Teixeira – who has been compared to former Chelsea midfielder Deco – completed a quick one-two with his teammate, before confidently and clinically converting the ball into the bottom left corner of the Kop goal (see clip, @ 1min 20secs).
That performance impressed Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish – who was keeping a close eye on the tournament – so much that he sent the club’s scouts to watch the exciting playmaker on a more regular basis.
His outstanding displays in that tournament saw him invited to train with the Sporting first team, but he did not manage to make his debut for the club where he had developed so much as a player.
In February this year, Liverpool announced the signing of Joao Carlos – as he is more informally known – for a fee in the region of £850,000.
Despite their reluctance to lose one of the most talented players to come through their ranks in recent years, Sporting’s difficult financial situation meant that they had to lose Teixeira for a small fee.
He had a difficult start to his Liverpool career, having to sit out the rest of the 2011-12 season with a back injury, but was fit to make his debut in July as the under-18’s beat Exeter 8-1 in a friendly. Just five days later and the dynamic midfielder made his debut for the reserve team - again a winning start, helping the Reds to a 4-2 win over the USA under-20’s.
By being educated in a youth system which insists on getting the ball down and passing to feet, Teixeira will fit perfectly into what Brendan Rodgers and Rodolfo Borrell are trying to do on Merseyside. However, with the recent acquisition of midfielder Joe Allen and the development of Suso, the Reds may look at the loan market to give Joao Carlos the opportunity to progress his game at a more competitive level in English football.
For the time-being the Portuguese under-19 international will continue to develop in Liverpool’s reserve side, but with new manager Rodgers already showing that he is willing to play youngsters if they are good enough, it may not be long before Teixeira is involved with the first team.
http://www.lfcts.com/joao-carlos-teixeira-the-next-liverpool-star/I'd forgotten about this lad.
A loan could be a good option to a team that plays passing football.