Domingos Quina may be just 16, but the winger is already getting his West Ham United teammates and coaches excited
- Domingos Quina, 16, is with West Ham United's senior squad on their US Tour
- The Portuguese winger came through the ranks at Benfica, where his father also played
- Teenager won the UEFA European U17 Championship title in May 2016
The youngster arrived at the Hammers this summer after spells with Portuguese giants Benfica – where his father Samuel spent a decade as a player – and Chelsea, having lifted the UEFA European U17 Championship trophy in May.
An unpredictable talent capable to beating his man with apparent ease, Quina has been selected to travel with Slaven Bilic’s senior squad to the Club’s pre-season tour of the United States.
“I started playing football in school, then I moved to Benfica and now I’m in my first year here and already I’m with the first-team squad which is incredible,” he told West Ham TV. “I’m excited and just enjoying it.”
I’m in my first year here and already I’m with the first-team squad which is incredible
It should perhaps come as no surprise that Quina has great ability, seeing has his Dad made more than 150 appearances for Benfica, appearing in the 1990 European Cup final against AC Milan, and earned five caps for Portugal.
“I started playing football because my Dad played for Benfica,” he confirmed. “I moved from Africa to Portugal and it made it easier because my Dad had played there. I went straight to Benfica and stayed there.
“I think Benfica is one of the best schools to learn football in Europe, to be honest. They have got so many kids there.”
Two-and-a-half decades later, Samuel’s son is following in his footsteps, being tipped as one of Europe’s most intriguing young attackers by the continent’s youth football experts.
Born in Guinea-Bissau in western Africa, where he spent time at his father’s Academy, Quina moved to Lisbon to further his career, coming through the same Benfica youth system that produced the likes of Eusebio.
While he has some way to go before he emulates the achievements of the King, Quina’s potential is there for all to see.
“I have got some skills and I like to surprise people and do things that they aren’t expecting,” he explained. “I like to be exciting and do things in different ways to the way other people do them.”
“I started playing football because my Dad played for Benfica,” he confirmed. “I moved from Africa to Portugal and it made it easier because my Dad had played there. I went straight to Benfica and stayed there.
“I think Benfica is one of the best schools to learn football in Europe, to be honest. They have got so many kids there.”
Two-and-a-half decades later, Samuel’s son is following in his footsteps, being tipped as one of Europe’s most intriguing young attackers by the continent’s youth football experts.
Born in Guinea-Bissau in western Africa, where he spent time at his father’s Academy, Quina moved to Lisbon to further his career, coming through the same Benfica youth system that produced the likes of Eusebio.
While he has some way to go before he emulates the achievements of the King, Quina’s potential is there for all to see.
“I have got some skills and I like to surprise people and do things that they aren’t expecting,” he explained. “I like to be exciting and do things in different ways to the way other people do them.”
On Sunday, Quina joined his new teammates on their second day of training at the Seattle Seahawks’ Virginia Mason Athletic Complex.
“I try to enjoy it and not think about the other players on the pitch and what they have done,” he continued. “I try to be myself and enjoy it.”
In Seattle, the Hammers stepped things up with a series of sessions aimed at building their fitness and sharpness ahead of the 2016/17 Premier League season.
At 16, that competition may come too soon for the Portugal U17 international, but he is eager to make his mark at whatever level he is given an opportunity this coming campaign.
“First-team football is in everyone’s ambitions but [this season] I want to play Development Squad football and try to learn, and if the first team comes I’ll just do it!” smiled Quina, who named Barcelona and Spain star Andres Iniesta as his favourite player.
“Mark Noble told me he had heard about me before and told me to just be myself, feel normal and do my thing and try to do everything right.”
“I try to enjoy it and not think about the other players on the pitch and what they have done,” he continued. “I try to be myself and enjoy it.”
In Seattle, the Hammers stepped things up with a series of sessions aimed at building their fitness and sharpness ahead of the 2016/17 Premier League season.
At 16, that competition may come too soon for the Portugal U17 international, but he is eager to make his mark at whatever level he is given an opportunity this coming campaign.
“First-team football is in everyone’s ambitions but [this season] I want to play Development Squad football and try to learn, and if the first team comes I’ll just do it!” smiled Quina, who named Barcelona and Spain star Andres Iniesta as his favourite player.
“Mark Noble told me he had heard about me before and told me to just be myself, feel normal and do my thing and try to do everything right.”