Olympiacos midfielder Gustavo Sa reflects on his record-breaking tenure at Famalicão while detailing why the tactical quality of Portuguese football remains a step ahead of the Greek Super League.
Olympiacos midfielder Gustavo Sa took the time to distinguish the level between Greek and Portuguese football while emphasizing on the influence at his former club Famalicao.
Speaking in an interview on the show Sem Filtros via Sport24.gr, Olympiacos' new signing Gustavo Sa began talking about his relationship with Portuguese side Famalicão, which helped him launch his career in Europe.
“Famalicão is like my home. It was the club that welcomed me from the age of 13 to 21.
I was captain in some youth categories, but also in the first team.
I will be eternally grateful for everything they did for me, especially to President Miguel Ribeiro," said Sa.
The 21-year-old spent the first three years of his youth career at Porto's academy before moving to Famalicão for the next four years between 2018 and 2022. Os Famalicenses signed him on a professional contract at the age of 16 to start him in first-team training. He was later extended until the summer of 2025.
He made over 100 appearances for the club, scoring 11 goals across all competitions in the four years he played for the first team. He broke Joao Moutinho's record as the youngest player ever to complete 100 games at 21 years, 3 months and 24 days in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
Sa has featured in four matches in the Stoiximan Super League and is yet to register a goal or an assist. The Portuguese also provided his opinion on Greek football, remarking on the development and the difference between his former league and the current one. He said: "In Greece, we are behind Portuguese football. There is progress more and more, but we know that we are still lagging behind other leagues.
"I believe that Greek football has potential. I believe that Portuguese football is distinguished by the quality of the game, so comparing the two championships is impossible."
Meanwhile, in other news, West Ham offered Mexican captain Edson Alvarez as a potential transfer opportunity to Olympiacos after the Greek giants approached the EFL Championship side during the summer transfer window for him. The Red and Whites were contacted by The Hammerers to reignite their interest in Alvarez, but Evangelos Marinakis blocked the door. The 28-year-old has a contract with West Ham until the summer of 2028, and it remains to be seen whether Olympiacos come back for him in the winter transfer window, though chances are looking bleak.
