Eduardo Quaresma

Sporting CP

Early career

Born in Barreiro, Setúbal District, Quaresma joined the youth academy of Fabril at the age of 3 before moving to Sporting CP in 2011. In May 2020, the club rejected a bid of €5 million and Diego Laxalt from AC Milan in exchange for his signature. Inter Milan and RB Leipzig were also interested in him, but he agreed to a new contract to tie him to Sporting until 2025, with a €45 million buyout clause and annual salary of €250,000. Quaresma made his professional debut in a 2–2 Primeira Liga away draw against Vitória de Guimarães on 4 June 2020, playing the full game. In the following season, he contributed two appearances (three overall) as his team won the national championship for the first time in 19 years.

2021–2023: Loans to Tondela and Hoffenheim

On 23 July 2021, Quaresma was loaned to Tondela for one year without a buying option. He scored his first goal in the Portuguese top flight on 7 January 2022, a late consolation in the 1–3 home loss to Benfica. He played 30 games as they suffered relegation; one of those was on 22 May when he featured the entire final of the Taça de Portugal, lost 3–1 to Porto. On 4 August 2022, Quaresma joined Hoffenheim on a season-long loan, with an option to make the move permanent afterwards. He totalled only four matches during his spell in Germany, and the club did not activate the clause.

Return from loan

Quaresma returned to the Estádio José Alvalade in summer 2023.…

Quaresma represented Portugal at under-15, under-16, under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels, totalling 36 caps. He made his debut for the under-21s on 6 September 2021, in a 1–0 win over Belarus in the 2023 UEFA European Championship qualifiers held in Amadora.

Quaresma was primarily deployed as a central defender, although he was also used as a right-back or defensive midfielder. He was noted for his passing range, anticipation and defensive positioning, as well as his ability to carry the ball and play short passes. His pace and mobility allowed him to contribute in both defensive and build-up phases of play.

Quaresma is a distant relative of Brazilian international Zico. He is also a distant cousin of fellow footballer Ricardo Quaresma through his mother.