"Olympiakos's " little Leo Messi " was Daniel Podence

It’s true that life brings them. In the same season, «Scottish Messi» (Ryan Gold) and «Portuguese Messi» or Daniel Podence have been together in the Belenenses academies.

And shortly before he was 10, he found himself in the face of an important decision. Will he leave his family and calm or attempt to take a step forward: «It was like picking fish or meat. The decision was easy for me because I had seen so many big players out of the academies and I liked it more as a team, «said Podence , who then chose Sporting, and Benfica wanted him.

In his new team; Sporting, has always been in everyone’s mouth. On the one hand, because he was the shortest but on the other he knew the best ball. He managed to do his best to defeat the opposing defense.

«I want people to stop calling me a Portuguese medium. I’m Daniel Podence and so I want to call me. I want to write my own story. «

In the same group at that time other important talents that now make their own career are struggling. And I refer to the Matthews, Gelson Martins and others.

However, the young Podence believed in him but he does not even hide that he has anything more: «I’m fast, unpredictable, creative. But what makes me different is that I like the essence. I’m playing for her. For the goal. I want to either score or give assists, something tangible from my actions, «he said in one of his first interviews.

In the first team of Sporting he was promoted by Olympiakos technician, Marco Silva. He saw his talent and asked for his direct entry into the first team. Podence was used in 6 games in the 2014-15 season.

Jorge Jesús

But the one who believed him more than everyone and admits himself was Jorge Jesus

After 6 months he had been loaned to Moreirense (4 goals in 18 games) in the season 2016-17 he urgently called Jesus and played for 13 games in Sporting by the end of the season.

In the period 2017-18 it was now basic to the ninth. He took part in 20 games (12 in the championship). But his luck went against him. A serious ankle injury left him behind.

And then the unbelievable events came to Sporting’s training center. The team had lost the title in the last game. Angry but also furious, quite a few fans lost control and attacked Jesus and footballers among them Podence and Rui Patricio. So Podehenes was logical to denounce his contract and to ask the Portuguese Federation for the immediate release of his obligations.

Now the 22-year-old striker (1m65) who has not yet worn the national men’s trousers but his national trousers moves fast to adapt as quickly as possible to Greece and Olympiakos and to unfold his talents, showing who really is!