Dário Essugo
Full name: Dário Cassia Luís Essugo
Country: Portugal/Angola
Date of birth: 14/03/2005 (17 years old)
Place of birth: Odivelas (Portugal)
Height: 179cm
Youth career: UDR Santa Maria, Sporting CP (since 2014)
Current club: Sporting CP
Squad number: 84
Current national team: Portugal U-19
Position: defensive midfielder, central midfielder
Preferred foot: right
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): 1.000.000 €
Tournaments participated in: UEFA Youth League 2021/2022 (5/0), 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship (5/1)
Contract until: 30.06.2025
Player’s agent: unknown
Transfer rumours: —
Similar type of player: William Carvalho/Thomas Partey
Strengths:
– passing 
– tackling
– work rate
– athleticism
– positioning
– tactical intelligence
– pace 
– heading
– technique
– vision
Weaknesses:
No significant weaknesses.
Style of play:
– modern holding midfielder
– has all the qualities to play as a box-to-box midfielder as well
– player with excellent body mass ratio, power, and natural fitness who feels comfortable in contact situations
– powerful midfielder that imposes himself on the pitch with his tireless running, work rate, and strength
– very good pace and coordination for a player of his size/a true athletic phenomenon
– good passer who feels comfortable and has a good composure on the ball, making part of the team’s build-up process at the first instances
– determined and committed player with very good rate of individual and collective work
– perfect player for a high intensity and pressing team
– possesses high stamina, timing, energy, and the ability to make good runs through the middle of the park
– covers a lot of space
– extremely difficult to knock off the ball thanks to his strength and ability to shield the ball
– dominant in the air
– consistent, aggressive, and tenacious in the defensive phase
– feels very comfortable in the physical duels and knows how to use his body well to gain advantage
– superb positioning and anticipation sense to provide many key interceptions, clearances, and tackles for his team
– very impressive/high percentage of challenges won
– mature with above-average decision-making for a player of his age
– good leadership skills/possible captain in the future
Essugo shows his good recovery pace – he tracks back and wins the ball with a superb tackle.
Essugo charges with the ball forward and provides a superb pass to his teammate.
Heatmap by Wyscout:
He is best suited to playing as:
Defensive midfielder in 4-3-3.
Video:
Achievements:
Portuguese U-15 Championship 2018/2019 winner with Sporting CP.
Primeira Liga 2020/2021 winner with Sporting CP.
Portuguese League Cup 2021/2022 winner with Sporting CP.
Portuguese Super Cup 2021/2022 winner with Sporting CP.
League summary (as for 31 May 2022):
Primeira Liga 2020/2021: 1 game/0 goals (Sporting CP)
Primeira Liga 2021/2022: 1 game/0 goals (Sporting CP)
Liga 3 2021/2022: 15 games/0 goals (Sporting B)
Description:
Dário Essugo joined Alcochete, the famous Sporting CP youth academy, in 2014 at the age of 9. He made his professional debut for SCP on 20 March 2021 in a league fixture against Vitória de Guimarães – at 16 years and 6 days, he became the youngest-ever debutant in the club’s history. He is also one of the leaders of a new very talented wave of Sporting youngsters which includes, among others Rodrigo Ribeiro, Gonçalo Esteves, João Muniz, Youssef Chermiti, Afonso Moreira, Chico Lamba, Flávio Nazinho, Leonardo Barroso, and Mateus Fernandes.
Quotes:
“It is an indescribable sensation, in which I always breathed in and always dreamed. I have to thank everyone. It is only the beginning, to continue working and helping the club to achieve its goals. It is different to be playing at a senior level. They supported me and I was even more relaxed.”
(Dário Essugo after making his professional debut for Sporting CP)
Football Talent Scout potential rating:
Player has the potential to become a key player in a top European club.
Links: