Wednesday’s Special: Meet Ricardo Quaresma

In this fourth episode of Wednesday’s Special, The Writer will bring the readers into the life and brief story of a weekly selected footballer. Today, readers will have the chance to meet Portugal former boy wonder, Ricardo Quaresma, albeit in words only. Ricardo Quaresma started his career at the world famous football academy of Sporting Lisbon. He continued the path of Portugese greats such as Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo in honing their early career development at Lisbon. He made his professional debut in the season of 2000/2001. Quaresma was then being sold to Barcelona for a reported €6 million fee with a loan deal of Fábio Rochemback going to Sporting. However it turned out bad for him and during UEFA Euro 2004, he announced his refusal to play for Barça as long as Frank Rijkaard was in charge. Quaresma then signed for FC Porto in the summer of 2004 and there was where he really developed his game and became a household name in Europe. He was popular for incorporating various of tricks into his style of play, including the 'Rabona' and 'Trivela'. Generally, he was a winger who can play on either flank, where his qualities of speed and finesse cause a regular problem for opposing defenses. He represented Portugal national team since 2003. He was always being compared with his friend Cristiano Ronaldo where they shared almost similar style of flair when playing and also shared the same passion in hairstyling and fashion. However Quaresma never managed to reach the same height as Ronaldo neither in club achievement nor in the international stage.

  

Ricardo Quaresma then had a more nomadic career experiences where he joined the likes of Inter Milan, Chelsea, Besiktas, and also Al-Ahli. All these clubs didn't manage to maintain and improve Quaresma' career quite as successful as his stay at FC Porto earlier. He was often being criticized as lazy and uninterested. And there were also some sections of football experts referred him as one of football unfulfilled talents in modern era. Luckily he realized before it is all too late for him. He currently rejoined FC Porto in 2014 for his second spell. Hopefully his stay at FC Porto this time can ignite his old glittering form and magical skills which made him one of The Writer's all-time favorite players. He should really call FC Porto as his home now. Good luck Ricardo Quaresma!