Sometimes, a young player quietly turns heads. Sandro Vidigal, a 17-year-old winger, is doing just that at Sp. Braga. He recently joined the first team for their training camp in Austria. His performance there seems to have truly impressed the coaching staff.
The team’s head coach, Carlos Vicens, has started making tough choices. Some players are returning to the B team to slim down the main squad. Thiago Helguera and Kauan Kelvin, for example, have gone back. But Vidigal, at only 17, remains part of the senior group. This decision wasn’t accidental; it was a clear sign of his potential.
Vidigal showed what he could do in Austria. He is staying with the top squad for now. However, his path to a regular spot is incredibly tough. He faces a huge challenge to make it into the first team lineup. The competition for his position is fierce.
Consider the players already there. Roger, for instance, is a strong contender. He is currently on a special training plan after playing in the U-21 European Championship for Portugal. This cut short his usual rest time. But other big names also play in similar spots. There are Gabri Martínez, Gharbi, Zalazar, and Ricardo Horta. These are all established stars at the highest level. Vidigal can only dream of reaching their status right now.
Even so, the early signs are promising. Sandro Vidigal might be a real surprise for Sp. Braga this season. He still has many steps to take in his development. This is normal for someone his age. Interestingly, Vidigal first started playing basketball at age 10. He later chose football. He played for Fut. Benfica from 2018 to 2020. Then he moved to Belenenses. Sp. Braga signed him in 2022. Over the last three seasons, he played 76 games and scored 29 goals for the U-17 and U-19 teams. Last season, he also played two matches for the U-23 squad.