#14 Goncalo Guedes
Benfica is a powerhouse not only in Portugal but in European football and more importantly, youth development across the world. One of the world’s finest talent spotters and talent developers, Benfica creates world-class talent on a regular basis and have a tendency of receiving large sums for them.
An example of the clubs’ brilliance in the youth and transfer market is Renato Sanches. Sanches was purchased for two dozen footballs and was last summer sold for an initial free in the range of £35 million, with another £20 million depending on the completion of clauses in the future.
Benfica is heavily rumoured to have conceded the services of Victor Lindelof to Manchester United for over €35 million and the next in line to leave the Portuguese club is Goncalo Guedes. Born in Benavente, a town of just 29,000 people, Guedes has emerged from humble beginnings. After signing up with Benfica’s academy at the age of 8, he, like others on this list, progressed quickly through the age groups.
But unlike others in this list, he has had to wait for his shot at stardom, making his breakthrough at the age of 19. After impressing in the second division of Portuguese football with Benfica B, Guedes finally established himself in the first squad in the 2015-2016 season.
Since the start of the current campaign, he has become a mainstay in the first team. In the summer, Benfica sold their long-time first choice left winger, Nicolas Gaitan and that has opened up space for Guedes. The teenager is capable of playing at left wing, the number 10 role, as a supporting striker or as an out and out striker. Initially, he was highly successful on the left wing in his early days, racking up a lot of assists especially in the B team but he has since been deployed more centrally.
In 24 matches this season, he has been directly involved in 12 goals. His link up play, vision, and passing ability are commendable and highly appreciated but adding a little more conviction in front of goal will help his career towards a much bigger European side. With Manchester United, just one of the big names rumoured to be interested, and his agent’s name being Jorge Mendes, the second half of the campaign will be crucial for his summer and beyond.
