No hard feelings
Following the expiration of his contract with Pogo? in August, Ricardo Nunes’ career has gone full circle and he now finds himself back home where it all began.
“I’m in a different stage of my life now because of my family and my priority is to play in Portugal with a nice project,” Nunes responds when asked about his future plans.
“I’m waiting to see if some things come through and if there’s a possibility to have a contract here. If not, only an exceptional offer would make me leave again, especially with this virus.”
The 34-year-old’s career has taken him through seven different countries, but it was in Portugal where he had his first taste of senior football with Benfica’s reserve side.
“When I came from South Africa we went to live in Estoril, so I started at Estoril, and then I transferred to Benfica, which is the dream of every young boy,” he begins.
“When I finished the season in Estoril, I had the opportunity to go to Sporting Lisbon or Benfica, but me and my father are both Benfica fans and I decided to go there.”
The dream was shattered in 2006, however, when the club’s reserve team was dissolved, leaving Nunes and his teammates at an early crossroads in their fledgling careers.
“I STILL HAVE SOME COACHES THAT TELL ME I MADE A BAD DECISION.”
He is honest in his reflection that he was never as close to the first team as he would have liked, but reveals that his release
