Over the past few hours, Dutch club AZ has presented itself with two young Portuguese talents, Thiago Dantas and Alexandre Penetra.
Portuguese football watchers will be particularly interested in AZ’s performance next season. The Dutch club, known in particular for its ability to develop young players, recently introduced two of the most promising elements to the Portuguese U-21 national team. these last days, Thiago Dantas And Alexander Penetra They both left Portugal to go to the Netherlands.
Thiago Dantas and Alexandre Penetra have arrived at AZ
A few weeks after sharing the Euro Espoirs’ Seleção U21 locker room, Thiago Dantas And Alexander Penetra You will meet again for a new adventure. Both are considered future players in Portugal, and both have joined the ranks of AZ, in the Netherlands, in recent hours.
After Tiago Dantas, it’s Alexandre Penetra’s turn to join the ranks of AZ 🔴🇳🇱 pic.twitter.com/xSfACQSbXh
– Trivela (Trivela_FR) July 24, 2023
to Thiago DantasIt’s a one-season loan that can lead to a permanent transfer. Indeed, like PAOK during the last loan that was the subject of the young midfield, AZ offered a buy-out option within the player’s contract.
to Alexander Penetra, the situation is very different. Passing through Benfica’s training schools before asserting himself in the ranks of Famalicao, the central defender signed with AZ on a long-term basis, for €4.5m.
Two very different cases
If the contracts are different, this also applies to their respective courses. Both important members of the Portuguese U-21 national team, Thiago Dantas And Alexander Penetra Experimenting with diametrically opposed paths.
The first city was quickly considered a great hope of Portuguese football, as it had great difficulty establishing itself in the ranks of its coaching club SL Benfica. He appeared only once for the main team of the Lisbon club, and was forced to take out several loans in an attempt to start his career at the highest level. at the age of 22, Thiago Dantas He already knew Bayern, Tondela and PAOK before he joined the ranks of AZ.
to Alexander Penetra, it is just the opposite. The versatile defender had a much more linear career, establishing himself as a key player in Famalicão’s squad. Having become rather big for the club in the north of Portugal, the Satao native will take advantage of this first experience abroad to try and continue his good momentum.
Youth club?
Was there a better place to follow his path? whether Thiago Dantas Comes to revive himself, whileAlexander Penetra Wanting to reaffirm his good performances in the past, the two seem to have fallen at the right club. Indeed, AZ has serious experience in developing young players.
Fourth in the last edition of the Eredivisie, the club has, in the past, contributed to the training of young talents who are now relatively famous on the European circuit. This is particularly the case for the Dutch midfielder Tune CopminersAtalanta and recently the two talents Milos Kirkiz And Tijjani ReignersHe left to join Bournemouth and Milan. It remains to be seen whether the Portuguese Thiago Dantas And Alexander Penetra They will be able to benefit from Dutch knowledge to achieve their goals.
Image credit: IconSport
After studying at Business School, Alexandre Ribeiro launched Trivela.fr in 2019 and now runs it alongside his assistants. Passionate about Portuguese football as a whole, and especially the Portugal national team, he with all his energy and involvement brings this media to life on a daily basis.
