Marcelo Branco

Right Back - Casa Pia
29 May 2029
Tuesday
Process

Marked for Marcelo Branco

147 Edition

The Casa Pia Herald

21 May 2029
From our football correspondent Steady

Squad

João Rijo keeps the receipts

“I remember the meeting. I remember exactly what was promised in it.” Casa Pia may remember it differently, which is precisely the problem.

Squad

The season belongs to David Sousa

An individual honour is a strange thing in a team game, and the best of them are never argued with. He has had the sort of year that ends with his name being read out, and Casa Pia have had the benefit of it.

Squad

Tempers go at Casa Pia

Nuno Cunha was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

In brief

Back issues
110 Edition

The Casa Pia Herald

4 Sep 2028
From our football correspondent Steady

Market

Ramires asks to leave Casa Pia

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Player ratings

Vando Félix runs at them all day

Successful dribbles: 23. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.

Player ratings

A defender's afternoon for David Sousa

Defensive actions: 23. He was first to everything and second to nothing, and the goalkeeper had an easy day because of it.

Squad

Jair in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Casa Pia this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

Marcelo Branco signs a new deal

“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Marcelo Branco commits to Casa Pia for another 4 years.

Market

A long bet from Casa Pia on Guilherme Castro

He is 20, and nobody at Casa Pia signed him for this season. Deals like this are judged in four years, by people who may not still be in the building.

Player ratings

Nuno Cunha shuts the door

Defensive actions: 15, and a clean sheet at the end of it. A centre-half's best afternoons look like nothing happening, which is precisely the point.

Squad

Kélian Nsona knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Casa Pia, and both men came out saying it was fine.

Player ratings

Carlos Eduardo keeps on missing

Shots: 10, not one of them in. A centre forward is paid for one thing, and on this evidence he has forgotten which thing it is.

In brief

80 Edition

The Casa Pia Herald

7 Feb 2028
From our football correspondent Crisis

Market

João Goulart puts it in writing

“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Casa Pia, and it is not being withdrawn.

Market

Ivan Mandić’s move to Portimonense falls through

The deal that would have taken Ivan Mandić to Portimonense has collapsed at the last stage, and he reports back to Casa Pia with a summer to forget and a season still to play. Nobody is saying which side walked away.

Squad

Defences have started doubling up on Issa Doumbia

17 goals and a season average of 7.43 will do that. The space he used to find has gone; he keeps scoring anyway, which is the mark of the real thing.

Match

No end in sight to Casa Pia's wait for a win

4 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Casa Pia has to find a result from somewhere.

Squad

Tempers go at Casa Pia

Cassiano was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Player ratings

Nobody could get near Korede Osundina

Successful dribbles: 22. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.

Match

Cassiano’s goal not enough for Casa Pia

Cassiano scored, and precious little else went right: 1‑2 to Chaves, and a quiet walk to the dressing room.

Market

Casa Pia buy the years ahead of Marcelo Branco

He is 19, and the scouting reports agree on the only line that matters: the ceiling. Signings like this are lottery tickets written by professionals.

Market

Casa Pia buy the years ahead of Victor Mabon

He is 19, and the scouting reports agree on the only line that matters: the ceiling. Signings like this are lottery tickets written by professionals.

In brief

54 Edition

The Benfica Gazette

9 Aug 2027
From our football correspondent Steady

Market

Manu puts it in writing

“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Benfica, and it is not being withdrawn.

Market

Benfica turn down Chaves for Anísio Cabral

The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.

Squad

Tempers go at Benfica

Tomás Araújo was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

Samuel Dahl asks for a word with the manager

“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.

Squad

Anísio Cabral has seen what the next man earns

Numbers do not stay secret in a dressing room and never have. He is not asking for more than he is worth; he is asking why somebody beside him is worth more, and at Benfica that is a harder question to answer.

Market

João Fidalgo leaves for nothing

Contract settled, hands shaken, no fee changing hands. João Fidalgo leaves Benfica the quiet way, and the wage bill breathes a little easier.

In brief