Sporting Lisbon loans young midfielder Lucas Dias to Cavalry FC

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It’s one other prized pick-up for talent-rich Cavalry FC

Flush with wealth when it comes to footie expertise — particularly on the midfield place — the Canadian Premier League membership has added one more cash participant in younger attacking star Lucas Dias to its cost.

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The 21-year-old midfielder joins Cavalry on mortgage from Portuguese facet Sporting Lisbon, one of many élite soccer applications abroad.

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“Lucas is an thrilling expertise that has had an important upbringing in considered one of Europe’s prime golf equipment,” mentioned Cavalry GM/head coach Tommy Wheeldon Jr.

“He’s a intelligent, attack-minded participant that desires to make issues occur within the opponent’s half,” continued Wheeldon. “We stay up for him carrying our crest and offering one other attacking piece to our squad.”

Dias joins the CPL squad simply forward of its debut in Concacaf competitors.

The Cavs match up with Main League Soccer’s Orlando Metropolis SC within the first spherical of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup on Wednesday, Feb. 21 — internet hosting at Starlight Stadium in Langford, B.C. (8 p.m. MT) — and on Tuesday, Feb. 27 — visiting Orlando’s Inter&Co Stadium (4 p.m. MT).

Dias’s participation within the continental occasion has but to be decided.

Regardless, he brings a bevy of expertise to the group, which begins its defence of the regular-season championship within the CPL on April 13.

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“It’s an important feeling to now be a part of this membership and journey,” Dias mentioned. “I can’t wait to get began.”

Born in Toronto, Dias joined Sporting’s Toronto academy at a younger age and was invited to the academy in Portugal when he was simply 9 years outdated.

After becoming a member of Sporting Lisbon completely at age 11, Dias signed his first skilled contract with the membership at 16 years outdated, following within the footsteps of legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who was additionally a product of Sporting.

Dias brings expertise to the Cavs due to his upbringing in Sporting’s system, with 49 appearances made for the membership throughout its under-19 and U23 squads and Sporting CP B facet.

Internationally, Dias made one look for Portugal’s U16 crew and has 4 caps for Canada on the U23 stage.

He was the youngest participant for the Canadian U23 nationwide facet in the course of the Concacaf males’s Olympic qualifying championship in Mexico. In Guadalajara, he was utilized by head coach Mauro Biello as a chunk coming off the bench in every of Canada’s three group video games.

tsaelhof@postmedia.com

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