Ricardo Quaresma explains struggles to deliver on his talent | OneFootball

Icon: OneFootball

OneFootball

Lewis Ambrose·7 November 2017

Ricardo Quaresma explains struggles to deliver on his talent

Article image:Ricardo Quaresma explains struggles to deliver on his talent

Ricardo Quaresma, a mercurial, enigmatic talent and one of just 23 men to win a trophy with the Portuguese national team.

It’s sometimes easy to forget the winger is now 34, seeing out the final days of his footballing career. Spells at Barcelona, Inter and Chelsea never lived up to the hype.


OneFootball Videos


The same can be said of his international career, though he has won 72 caps for Portugal

“I (always) had a coach who wouldn’t count on me and still thought I would play well,” Quaresma has openly admitted to Portuguese publication O Jogo. “Besiktas showed more interest and in return I helped the team win titles again.”

Article image:Ricardo Quaresma explains struggles to deliver on his talent

That much is true. After seven years without being crowned champions of Turkey, Quaresma’s second spell at the club has seen them lift the title in consecutive seasons.

Sandwiched between those seasons, Quaresma played well during Euro 2016, where Portugal were crowned champions.

Why, though, did it take so long for the winger to deliver on his talent?

“What I lacked was trust.” he explained.

“I’d never felt that with the national team and I’ve said it several times: the only coach who gave me their confidence is Fernando Santos.

“Maybe that’s why I’ve never had great games for the national team, I never felt the trust of those selecting me.”

Still going strong with Fernando Santos as the head coach, Quaresma has been rested during the current international break but is sure to be involved again next summer at the World Cup.