If the main European leagues are already over, this is not the case for the Spanish second division. In the struggle to rise to the elite, Portuguese Francisco Mascarenhas hopes to get a happy ending and help Real Oviedo achieve their goal.
Very little is known to the general public, as the Cascais native trained at Estoril, where he played at all youth levels up to the U23 team. However, despite the flawless journey so far, Francisco Mascarenhas He did not have the opportunity to debut with the main team Canarinhos. The fault lies in a certain irregularity in his performances, which notably prompted him to leave SC Portimonense U23s during the 2020/21 season.
In the south of the country, Francisco Mascarenhas He had a slow start, alternating between starts and short starts, as he struggled to excel. Providing an insufficient record of two assists in 20 matches, the first Canarinhos It was not in the best conditions to continue the second season. But against all odds, he managed to find the resources needed to reverse this trend. The following season, the Cascais native scored 9 goals and provided 2 assists in 22 matches for the U-23 team, which should have opened doors for him to the main team. But in the end he was offered a completely different option.
The Direction of Spain by Francisco Mascarenhas
He left for Real Oviedo, which plays in the second division. Francisco Mascarenhas Therefore, he chose Spain to continue his journey. Keen to help his new team achieve their goals, the Portuguese had to face a late appearance due to an enforced spell with the reserve team. Despite this, the striker did not lose hope and was able to discover the first team in February 2023. An opportunity that he was able to seize: after that, the Lusitanian took his place in the coach's young cards. Alvaro CerveraHe played 9 matches and scored his first goal in the second division. Little by little he became an essential part of the first team. Francisco Mascarenhas She offered herself the opportunity to start the next season in a completely different situation.
In his second season with Real Oviedo, who had dreamed of returning to the elite for 24 years, the winger established himself as a key player. The transformed 24-year-old achieved a convincing tournament in which he advanced in all areas of the game this season. Francisco Mascarenhas He scored 7 times, recording his best season at the highest level.
This Sunday, Masca will have the chance to realize an even bigger dream, as his team currently competes in the Spanish League qualifiers against Espanyol. Although he only played around thirty minutes in the first leg, which his team narrowly won (1-0), the Portuguese could be one of Real Oviedo's heroes, on the occasion of the second leg scheduled for this weekend. .
Alexis was a huge fan of football in general and Portuguese football in particular, and was immersed in this Lusitanian enthusiasm throughout his youth, between laughter, joy and sadness. Attracted by the beautiful game and new talents, he carefully monitors the different national leagues: from Bwin Liga to III Liga.
