Jovane Cabral #7

Profile

Born on Santiago island, Cabral moved to Portugal when he was 14 to join Sporting’s academy, where he spent a decade. He was a key cog in Ruben Amorim’s side that ended the club’s 19-year title drought, with the former Manchester United coach describing him as, “perhaps the most important player [at the club] when we first arrived”. His success in Portugal prompted him to turn down a call up to Cape Verde (having only featured in one friendly), instead wanting to try to naturalise as Portuguese and play with Cristiano Ronaldo et al. A series of injuries and subsequent loss of form derailed both his club and international career. The winger eventually returned to the Blue Sharks and heads into the World Cup without a club having ended his time with Estrela Amadora.

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