Manchester United full-back Diogo Dalot surprised his former youth team recently by leaving a rather special present for them in the carpark outside.
Growing up in Braga, Dalot spent his early formative years playing for the Fintas Football School before moving south to join Porto’s academy ranks at the age of nine.
However, it would appear that, even having made the jump to the Premier League, the 19-year-old hasn’t forgotten his roots.
In an interview with the A Bola newspaper, Fintas coordinator Luis Travassos revealed that Dalot used a portion of his first United wages to pay a little back to his first ever team.
We spoke to Diogo by Skype. He was on the (Manchester United) coach on his way to the match.
He told us to go outside, where we found a bus for the club.
It was certainly a shock! He prepared everything secretly, and saved a part of his first salary in England for the surprise.
To us, an institution with so many financial problems and so little resources, the gift was enormous.
Every bit of help we receive is wonderful.
Travassos also explained that, because Dalot left them at such a young age, Fintas didn’t receive any financial compensation at all from Porto.
I hope Porto and (club president) Pinto da Costa might contribute to a juvenile institution like ourselves, after Diogo’s transfer to Manchester United for €24million.
He (Da Costa) even has 10 more players originating from our academy.
Nudge, nudge.