This is how Oblak went from unknown teenager to Benfica legend: “It seemed like he was already 31 years old”
EThe derby was the last example of the validity of A cloud as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. The mural of the champions that presides over the stadium Of Lightin which he appears immortalized alongside Ederson, André Almeida, Nelson Semedo, Luisao, Garay, Ruben Días, Otamendi, Grimaldo, Rui Costa, Aimar, Simao, Salvio, Gaitán, Rafa, Nuno Gomes, Cardozo, Jonas and Joao Félixshows the mark he left on the Benfica in the only season he defended his suits. However, his conversion into a miracle worker also had its seasons in the Beira Mar, Olhanense, Uniao de Leiria and Rio Ave since in 2010 the Lisbon club did not hesitate to pay almost 4 kilos to a Olympia Ljubljana in which he had debuted at the age of 16. “When he returned from the last loan, he looked like he was 31 years old now. He was surprising because of his maturity, he was an ‘old’ young man. Very responsible, focused and intelligent,” they remember in Seixal some of the survivors who witnessed its hatching.
There he was part of the project since 2011 Eagle Onecreated by the man who would later be his coach between the sticks, Hugo Oliveira (today technical assistant at Fulham), which responded to the wish of the then president Luis Filipe Vieria to have a Academia strong as a talent school. However, knowing that Jorge Jesus was not very given to betting on young people in the first team, it was understood that A cloud He had to gain experience in the Portuguese League.
In fact, Jose BotoHead of Socutting Benfica then and today sports director of the Osijekhe was convinced that, even though he was only 17 years old, the doors he had opened for Serbia and Croatia (This is also how the signings of Matic, Sulejmani o Markovic) had allowed him to get a bargain that had been the object of desire in Italy and England. It would be two seasons later, in Rio Avewhen certainty would be absolute. “He was very reserved, but at the same time he had a very good relationship with everyone. Between the sticks he was very cold and in one-on-one he was top. He had more weaknesses with his feet, but at that time it was not so important for our game and later He managed to evolve a lot, becoming a more complete player. He showed great dedication in training,” remembers his captain. Tarantini.
“I would be lying if I said I thought he would become one of the best in the world, but I felt he was ready to play in the world.” Benfica. And he showed it, he was responsible for his path, fundamentally because of his ability to work and listen to what was proposed to him,” he adds.
An exemplary ‘student’
“He had incredible intrinsic qualities between the sticks, but he also stood out for his hunger, for always being awake to work and learn. He lacked understanding with a team in which he was asked to be more offensive to play with the forward line, but he showed great capacity and interest in wanting to know more on a tactical level”, corroborate from the heart of Seixal about the year of his return to Benfica to become a “world-class” goalkeeper… and one of the most profitable investments in the history of the AtléticoWell, even if it was Portugal Even if he was an unknown, he deserved to give up 16 kilos for a legend of both clubs.
