Talented Portuguese João Mariou

João Maríu is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a central midfielder. He can also play closer to the attack, in the position of an attacking midfielder, and even the right winger. João Mario is one of the most talented young players not only in Portugal, but also in the whole world.

Carier start

João Mariou was born on January 19, 1993 in Portugal, where from the age of nine he began attending the football academy of one of the country's strongest clubs - Porto. But he only stayed there for two years, then he was lured to the Academy of a direct competitor - Sporting, where he grew up. Mariu spent seven years in the club system, and when he was eighteen years old, he was immediately offered a professional contract. However, by that time, few people suspected that João Mariou was the same player who in five years would be considered one of the most talented. Therefore, the beginning of a professional career with a midfielder was far from the most stellar.

Game for Sporting

The midfielder spent the first two years in the club’s double, only occasionally getting into the main team. He entered the field only two times, and this clearly did not suit the player. Therefore, in the winter of 2014, João Mariou, a football player who was already twenty years old and had not achieved anything yet, was sent on loan to Vitoria from Setubal. For half a year, Mariu has revealed himself in the new club as an incredibly technical, smart and promising midfielder. He entered the field fifteen times and constantly surprised fans with what he showed during the game. As a result, the club's management also discerned potential in the young Portuguese and gave him a chance to show himself already in Sporting. In the first season, Mariu became a key player in the club, having played 44 matches and scored 7 goals in them. Largely thanks to him, Sporting was finally able to take the first trophy in a long time - the Portuguese Cup. Joao Mario, his second full season, photographs of which have already appeared on all covers of sports magazines in Portugal, also spent excellently: in 45 matches he scored another seven goals. Naturally, he attracted the attention of leading European clubs, especially after playing at the European Championship in 2016, where the Portuguese became champions for the first time in history.

Transition to Inter

João Mariou spent almost the entire summer of 2016 in limbo. The Italian "Inter" made every effort to buy the Portuguese, but in the end nothing came of it. João did not know where he would spend the next season. But three days before the closing of the transfer window, Inter still managed to find enough funds to acquire Portuguese talent for 40 million euros. This amount, depending on the success of the player in the club, can grow up to 45 million in the future. To date, the midfielder has played five matches for the new club, in which he scored two assists. The current Inter can hardly be called a top club, and João Mariou, in turn, is already practically a top player. Therefore, most likely, the Italian club is only a stepping stone for the Portuguese, with whom he will be able in a year or two to move to one of the strongest clubs in Europe.

Team appearances

Mario received his first call to the Portuguese national team in October 2014, when he came on as a substitute in a friendly match against the French national team. João went to the European Championship in 2016 as a base player: he appeared in all seven matches, distinguishing himself in one assist in a duel with the Hungarians. The last match in which the football player took part was a qualifying game against the Faroe Islands team, where Mariu scored two assists at once. João is gradually becoming a key figure in the center of the Portuguese field paired with Renato Sanshes, who also flashed to Euro 2016 and moved to Bayern.