Much of the post-match talk after Sporting Lisbon's 4-1 win over Manchester City in the Champions League on November 5 was about Ruben Amorim, with the Portuguese, at the time, preparing to take charge of Manchester United.
Amorim masterminded Sporting's success over the Premier League champions, while Viktor Gyokeres - Europe's most in-demand striker - also took plenty of the headlines, having come up with a hat trick against Pep Guardiola's side.
The performance of a certain Geovany Quenda went under the radar, but the outstanding 17-year-old was vital to Sporting's statement win, putting in an eye-catching display as the right-sided wing-back in a 3-4-3 formation.
Quenda provided the assist for Gyokeres to make it 1-1, with the teenager delivering a wonderful pass into his teammate, who broke into the penalty box before lifting the ball over the onrushing Ederson.
© Imago
Quenda showed his potential in Sporting win over Man City
His calmness under pressure was a notable part of his performance against Guardiola's team, with the youngster demonstrating his ability to control the ball in tight areas and almost always find the right pass.
To be able to play as a wing-back at the age of 17 is incredibly rare, and he has been converted into a more defensive player under Amorim, having initially come through as a right-sided attacker.
Quenda had a half-chance to score late on when he burst past Josko Gvardiol before firing towards goal, but his effort was just too high; not long after, he left the field to a standing ovation, with Sporting having a new superstar.
The Portuguese has now made 27 appearances for Sporting this season, scoring twice and providing three assists, while he had an impressive record of nine goals and seven assists in 24 matches for Sporting Under-23s.
Quenda has a contract in Lisbon until June 2027, but there is a release clause of €100m (£83.5m), and it might well be that interested clubs need to pay that in order to sign him.
© Imago
Man United, Man City, Arsenal are all allegedly interested in Quenda
Man United allegedly had a scout in attendance to watch Quenda in action against Famalicao on October 26, and he scored in Sporting's 3-0 win; the goal saw him become Sporting's youngest-ever scorer in the league at the age of 17 years, five months and 27 days old and once again catapulted him into the attention of a number of major clubs.
Man City and Arsenal are also believed to be interested, but Amorim's arrival at Man United could place the 20-time English champions at the head of the queue for his services.
Man United have famously signed Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani and Bruno Fernandes from Sporting, and more players from the Portuguese giants could soon move to Old Trafford due to the Amorim connection.
© Imago
Man United need to sign two wing-backs
Amorim, as expected, has implemented a 3-4-3 system at Man United, but it would be fair to say that the current group of players are finding it difficult to get used to the demands of the new set-up.
The wing-back areas have been particularly problematic, with Noussair Mazraoui struggling down the right, while Diogo Dalot has found it difficult to make his mark down the left.
Mazraoui's best position is in a back three, while Dalot is a right-sided player, but Luke Shaw's ongoing muscular problems, and Tyrell Malacia's struggles since returning from a long-term knee injury, have forced Amorim to use players in unfamiliar roles.
Man United need two wing-back specialists if they are to become a serious team once again, and Quenda has demonstrated his world-class potential during the 2024-25 campaign.
A more during the January transfer window is highly unlikely due to the numbers involved, with Man United needing to sell in order to buy, but the 20-time English champions should prioritise a deal for him during next summer's transfer window.
No Data Analysis info