Nuno Mendes
Full name: Nuno Alexandre Tavares Mendes
Country: Portugal
Date of birth: 19/06/2002 (17 years old)
Place of birth: Sintra (Portugal)
Height: 184cm
Youth career: Sporting CP
Current club: Sporting CP
Squad number: 5
Current national team: Portugal U-21
Position: central defender, left-back
Preferred foot: left
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): 12.000.000 €
Tournaments participated in: 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifying (2/0)
Contract until: 30.06.2025
Player’s agent: MRP Positionumber
Transfer rumours: Manchester United
Similar type of player: Ferland Mendy
Strengths:
– pace and acceleration 
– tackling
– athleticism
– positioning
– crossing
– dribbling 
– technique
– ball control
– bravery
Weaknesses:
No significant weaknesses.
Style of play:
– complete full-back
– can also play as a left-sided centre-back
– player with very good body mass ratio, physical strength, power, stamina and natural fitness who feels comfortable in contact situations
– possesses significant upper-body strength
– very good agility and coordination for a player of his size
– able to play as a wing-back in 3-5-2
– often looks to burst forward to offer width to the attacking movement in the final third
– above-average technique, ball control, and passing skills for a full-back
– likes to cross
– great positional sense and understanding of the game
– strong, energetic, consistent, aggressive, and hard tackling player with an extremely high work rate
– extremely dangerous on the counter thanks to his pace and acceleration
– provides many key interceptions, clearances and tackles for his team
– able to dribble and make good crosses at top speed
– endless energy and his powerful running make him an incredibly useful asset as he brings an offensive value to a team, with a lot of activity during 90 minutes on the left side
– great timing and game reading ability when going forward
After a quick combination with his teammate, Mendes provides a great cross into the penalty area.
Mendes outmuscles and outpaces his opponent and wins the ball back.
He is best suited to playing as:
Left-back in 4-3-3.
Video:
Achievements:
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League summary (as for 13 November 2020):
Primeira Liga 2019/2020: 9 games/0 goals (Sporting)
Primeira Liga 2020/2021 (ongoing): 7 games/1 goal (Sporting)
Description:
Nuno Mendes joined the famous Sporting CP youth academy at the age of 10. He made his professional debut in a 1–0 Primeira Liga home win against Paços de Ferreira on 12 June 2020, as a 72nd-minute substitute for Marcos Acuña. On 18 June 2020 became the youngest player to be named in a Sporting starting XI since Cristiano Ronaldo broke through into the first team. The next day he signed a new five-year contract that included a €45 million release clause. Ahead of the 2020/2021 season, he became a first-choice left-back of Rúben Amorim’s side and very quickly became one of the best full-backs in Portugal. Despite being only 18, he is already a member of Portugal U-21 national team.
Quotes:
“He has admitted that playing in the Premier League is a dream, and neither United nor Liverpool are likely to stop monitoring the progress of a player who idolises David Alaba, Marcelo and Lionel Messi, as well as Ronaldo.”
(goal.com)
Football Talent Scout potential rating:
10/10 
World-class potential.
Links: