This article contains adult content that may be inappropriate for minors. Please confirm that you are 18 years or older to continue. This article contains images or details that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. There are stories that deserve to be told. Nuno Marques's life has incredible moments, from a move from Tomar to Benfica. It also has many similarities with his son's life, who also chose to be a goalkeeper after trying out as a forward or winger. He will now leave home to seek happiness at a club far from home. From the home of a man who, being Portuguese, grew in politics after leaving sports and is now the vice president of a Norwegian locality that elected the Portuguese. What is discussed more at home, politics or football? "Politics, politics…" both say. We make the call to Norway, and Nuno answers immediately. "Duarte is a bit nervous; he is not really used to giving interviews," he explains, noting that his son understands every word of Portuguese but prefers to respond in English, which gives him more confidence. So we proceed. How is training in Norway? "Very different from Portugal. Here, it is not customary for clubs to handle training, as Sporting, FC Porto, or Benfica do in Portugal. There are schools focused on high-performance sports, and that has been my reality, as it is for all young Norwegians. Does it have quality? Look at the country that produced Odegaard, Haaland; Portugal has two excellent examples… Schjelderup and Aursnes," he says. Duarte Marques is still very young but has already signed with Ham Kam, a historic club in Norwegian football that competes in the top league. Until summer, while finishing the current school year, he will continue to play in his city for Snøgg, in the fourth tier of Norwegian football—a competitive level comparable to the Campeonato de Portugal. Starting in the summer, with the beginning of secondary education, he will join the first team of Ham Kam, playing for the B team and the under-19s, in a development context recognized by the club's strong investment in training. Nuno Marques begins by saying what he believes is beneficial about this change: "You know, one of Duarte's teammates is over 40 years old; he played with me when I arrived here. He will make mistakes, he will learn, he will show the talent he has, and believe me, it is much more than mine. But I am sure he will become a better goalkeeper." Duarte is not afraid of the challenge and assures that he is prepared. "I know it is a big step in my career, especially since goalkeepers usually reach the first teams much later. My father often tells me that goalkeepers need to have more patience, more resilience, and more capacity for suffering than players in other positions. When we fail, there is no solution; the team suffers. Others can make serious mistakes, and it goes unnoticed. He has always told me that if I end up on the bench, I must always believe that my time will come. That is what I will do." In an animated conversation, Duarte smiles and assures that his father Nuno is a demanding supporter. "There are more times he corrects me than those he praises me at the end of each game. But that is normal; he ends up being a specialist, understanding and telling me what I did well and less well. But he is an important support and someone who constantly seeks for me to be better, to evolve," he says. The report was born from the fact that in Norway, Duarte Marques is identified as one of the country's hopes for the future of football. Nuno Marques speaks with pride about what he feels are important achievements, but the young goalkeeper does not hesitate when we ask him if his dream is to represent Portugal or Norway. "Portugal, Portugal, Portugal," says the young man. We invite him to tell us what a dream career would look like, and the image is very solid. "I believe in myself and my abilities. I would say that a perfect path would be to one day play for Sporting and then reach the Portugal national team. If I had to choose, I wouldn't hesitate. I would obviously choose Portugal," he begins to say. Football takes many turns, life takes even more, and there is a scenario that makes one think. What if Norway calls him and there are no news from Portugal? "I have thought about that, and it can very well happen. The most natural thing is for me to accept, for example, if I am called up to the Norway U-17 national team, but that does not close the door to the dream I told you about. We have many players who represent one country at youth levels and when they reach seniors, they play for another. Who knows if that might happen to me too…" To close the subject, one certainty: "At this moment, it does not depend on me. What depends on me is to be good in Norway so that they see I am good in Portugal. And that is what I intend to do. As soon as I move in the summer to Ham-Kam, my fight for affirmation will begin, and I am very eager to succeed in this new challenge." Nuno Marques agrees with every word and gives a sign of approval and has something to say. "Do they at the Portuguese Football Federation already know about Duarte's existence? I believe so; I have information that they do. It is a very professional structure, and I feel that one day the door may open because Duarte has talent. He just needs to have luck, too," he concludes.
Nuno Marques Benfica remains central to this story.
Nuno Marques Benfica remains central to this story.
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