Teenage striker Yu Dabao says he has what it takes to be a star
after winning a place in the first-team squad of Portuguese giants
Benfica.
Yu, 18, impressed the Lisbon club with 13 goals in 13 games
since joining the reserve team on a three-year contract in April,
and now he will compete with main strikers Nuno Gomes and Simao
Sabrosa for playing time.
"To be a member of the first-string team is just the start for
me. What's important now is preseason preparations that will
determine my future in the 18-man squad. I will try to take my
chance," Yu was quoted as saying by Titan Sports.
The striker was signed to the reserve team in April from
second-division side Qingdao for $535,000, but after his impressive
showing he could soon be lining up alongside legendary midfielder
Rui Costa.?
"I was more excited than nervous when I trained with the big
names for the first time. But after two training sessions, I felt
much more relaxed as the atmosphere is good. Everyone is really
friendly," Yu said.
The promotion makes Yu the first Chinese player in the
Portuguese top flight.
"There is pressure from the media as they are comparing me to
the club's other young players. But there is more encouragement
from my teammates.
"I am trying not to be distracted and just focus on training. I
have to go forward step by step and I believe I will have the
chance to compete for the club," Yu added.
Yu's emergence from the reserves also earned him a spot on the
national Olympic Team, but he had to miss the just-concluded
Eight-Nation International Competition in South Africa in order to
fight for his future at Benfica.
"It was pity (not playing for Olympic team for the first time).
I hope I will be called up by the Olympic team again. To play on
home soil at the Olympic Games is my dream."
To Yu's delight, his former teammate from the national U-17
squad Wang Gang will be joining him in Lisbon. Tianjin-born Wang
has signed a similar deal to Yu's: he will first have to prove
himself in the reserves before graduating to the main team.
Benfica regularly compete with Sporting Lisbon and FC Porto for
the Portuguese Championship. They finished third last season, and
made the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup.
(China Daily July 5, 2007)