Three U-19 champions with new contracts

Pedro Álvaro, Diogo Capitão and Luís Pinheiro, U-19 national champions, have updated and changed their respective contractual links to Sport Lisboa e Benfica. The first two renewed their contracts until 2023, the third signed a professional contract also until 2023. They are all 18 years old.

Born in (02.03.2000), Pedro Álvaro is a U-18 player. The centre-back has been representing Benfica for the last seven seasons. He joined the Viseu SL Benfica Training Center in 2011/12, having transitioned to the Caixa Futebol Campus in 2012/13, as a U-13 player. He began his career at Seia FC and he also represented AD São Romão.

Pedro Álvaro worked frequently with the B team squad and made his debut in the II Liga during the 2017/18, having been launched in two matches and called-up for seven. With an eagle on his chest, he has already become U-15 national champion (2013/14) and U-19 national champion (2017/18).

Last season, o central performed 16 matches in the National Championship and five in the UEFA Youth League. He has 22 caps in all categories of the Portuguese national team (one in the U-15, 11 in the U-16, six in the U-17 and four in the U-18) and scored three goals.

"I will continue working the same way, putting in the effort day by day. It is another achieved goal in my career. I am very happy", shared Pedro Álvaro in a statement to BTV.

Diogo Capitão (06.03.2000), also a U-18 player, has been playing at Benfica for 12 seasons. The midfielder arrived in 2006/07, coming from Vilafranquense, and integrated the Benfica Soccer Schools, before he was old enough to join competition squad. Officially he only played for Benfica and he does it since 2009/10, for nine seasons.

A U-19 national champion in 2017/18, a season in which he played in 28 Championship matches, having scored one goal. He also played a match in the UEFA Youth League. Last season, Diogo Capitão made his debut in the youth national teams and racked up his first three caps for the U-18 in the Porto International Tournament.

"I worked for this to happen. The team also made stood out. I thank the Club for renewing my contract. It is a pride, I have been carrying this crest for 12 years now", said Diogo Capitão.

Luís Pinheiro (08.03.2000), also a U-18 player, is at Benfica for seven seasons now. The right-back is developing at the Eagles since 2011/12, coming from d’O Calipolense, of AF Évora. U-19 national champion in 2017/18, he took part in 26 encounters and scored one goal. He also played one match in the UEFA Youth League. He has seven caps since May 26, 2015: two in the U-15 and five in the U-16.

"It's great to have signed a professional contract. It was a goal and this year I managed to fulfill the dream due also to the fact that we were U-19 national champions", commented Luís Pinheiro.

Text: João Sanches

Pics: Isabel Cutileiro / SL Benfica