Silvestre Varela

Silvestre Manuel Gonçalves Varela (born 2 February 1985 in Almada) is a Portuguese footballer who plays for F.C. Porto in the Portuguese first division, as a winger.

Club career

A product of Sporting Clube de Portugal's youth system, Varela was loaned to Casa Pia A.C. and Vitória Futebol Clube in his early years as a professional. Despite being a regular with the Portuguese under-21s and having enjoyed a decent form in various tournaments, he was not able to secure a place in Sporting's first team, only managing two substitute appearances in the 2005–06 season.

In 2007–08 Varela, alongside two former Sporting players, Beto and Carlos Martins, played for Recreativo de Huelva in Spain (Varela on loan again). After a disappointing season despite having received playing time in La Liga, he returned to Sporting in July 2008, only to be immediately sold to C.F. Estrela da Amadora.

Before the season was over, in March 2009, courtesy of his solid performances at Estrela, only relegated from the top division off the field, Varela signed a four-year agreement with champions F.C. Porto, on a free transfer, starting in July.

In his first season at Porto, Varela ranked second in overall goals in the team, only behind Colombian striker Radamel Falcao. In March 2010, however, he broke his fibula in training, being lost for the remainder of the campaign, as Porto finished third.

International career

Courtesy of his Porto performances,...
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