Manchester United were interested in a Sporting CP star who worked under Ruben Amorim during his time in Portugal
Geovany Quenda of Sporting CP runs in the field during the Primeira Liga match between Sporting CP and CF Estrela da Amadora at Estadio Jose Alvalade on November 30, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal.
Geovany Quenda was previously linked with Manchester United(Image: Maciej Rogowski/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
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Manchester United could've picked up a £50million right winger from Sporting CP that Bernardo Silva thinks can replace him in the Portugal national team.
In February last year, United were linked with rising star Geovany Quenda following Ruben Amorim's move to the Premier League in November 2024. At the time, it was claimed that United had 'verbally agreed' personal terms with the young star ahead of the summer transfer window.
Sporting were said to have rated the forward at £50m, with Manchester City and Liverpool also said to be interested. In the last two seasons, Quenda has produced 24 goal contributions in 66 appearances for the Portuguese side and has caught the eye of many.
One such admirer is City's Silva, who predicted a bright future for the 18-year-old. Regarding the national team, he said: "He will probably steal my place. At 17, I wasn't even playing for Benfica's youth team."
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Amorim was also fond of the young attacker after giving him his debut at his old club. While at Sporting, the 41-year-old said: "[He's] very physically robust, very focused, with his feet firmly on the ground. That's very important for a young player.
"He got his chance and there was no chance to take it away, no doubt, nothing. I think he's going to be a great player, but let's give it time."
One year on, Amorim has since been given his marching orders at United. The head coach had a rollercoaster 14 months in charge at Old Trafford, losing the Europa League final to Tottenham and setting some seriously unwanted records with domestic and European losses.
Sporting's Portuguese forward #57 Geovany Quenda takes part in a training session on the eve of their UEFA Champions League football match against LOSC Lille at Cristiano Ronaldo academy training ground in Alcochete on September 16, 2024.
The teenager has chosen to head elsewhere in the Premier League(Image: PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)
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Meanwhile, Quenda is still at Sporting working under Rui Borges, but he has secured his move to the Premier League. Just a month after the links to United, the teenager signed a preemptive deal to join Chelsea in the summer of 2026, putting pen to paper on a seven-year contract.
With a transfer fee worth up to £40m, the Blues snuck in ahead of Amorim to secure the promising winger. Quenda is set to remain at Sporting through the 2025/26 season and join Chelsea this summer - although an injury has changed his current circumstances.
Right now, the 18-year-old has been carrying out his recovery from a fractured metatarsal at Chelsea's Cobham training ground. It looks like his future club aims to help him prepare for a return that could be as early as next month.
The teenager sustained the injury in December last year against Benfica. He hopes to return to the pitch for Sporting in time for their Champions League round of 16 matches.