Nilton Varela

Nilton Varela Lopes (born 25 May 2001) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a defender for Belenenses SAD in the Primeira Liga.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Varela and the second or paternal family name is Lopes.
Nilton Varela
Personal information
Full name Nilton Varela Lopes
Date of birth (2001-05-25) 25 May 2001
Place of birth Portugal
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position(s) Defender
Club information
Current team
 Belenenses SAD
Number 25
Youth career
2009–2012 Sporting
2012–2016 Benelenses
2016–2017 Sporting
2017–2019 Benelenses
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019– Belenenses SAD 18 (1)
National team‡
2019 Cape Verde U19 1 (0)
2020– Portugal U19 1 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21 July 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21 July 2020

Football career

Varela alternated between Lisbon-based clubs Sporting CP and C.F. Os Belenenses in his youth. He made his professional debut with Belenenses SAD in a 2–0 Primeira Liga loss away to Sporting on 10 November 2019.[1] The following 26 January, he scored his first goal in a 2–1 home win over Portimonense SC, with his uncle scoring the other.[2] He was a regular in the second half of the season as Petit replaced Pedro Ribeiro as manager, earning his place from unrelated Spaniard Francisco Varela.[3]

Internatianal career

Born in Portugal, Varela is of Cape Verdean descent.[4] Varela represented the Cape Verde U19s in a friendly 2-0 loss to the Portugal U19s on 30 January 2019.[5] He switched to represent Portugal, and represented the Portugal U19s in a 3-1 win over France U19s on 25 February 2020.[6]

Personal life

Varela made his professional debut for Belenenses SAD alongside his uncle Silvestre Varela, a winger who played mainly for FC Porto and was a long-time international for Portugal.[1]

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References
  1. "Nilton Varela e a estreia com o tio: «É um dia que vai ficar marcado na minha vida»" [Nilton Varela and debut with uncle: "It's a day that will remain etched in my life"]. Record (in Portuguese). 10 November 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  2. "Família Varela penaliza erros do Portimonense" [Varela family punish Portimonense's errors] (in Portuguese). Bancada. 26 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  3. Gouveia Pereira, Miguel (23 May 2020). "Francisco Varela não deve voltar ao Belenenses SAD" [Francisco Varela must not return to Belenenses SAD]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  4. "Criolos No Estrangeiro: Futebol Portugal – Nilton Varela estreia-se na primeira liga portuguesa de futebol" [Creoles Abroad: Portugal Football – Nilton Varela debuts in Portuguese football's Primeira Liga] (in Portuguese). Criolo Sports. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  5. "Seleção Sub-19 - Ficha de Jogo, resultados e equipas | FPF". www.fpf.pt.
  6. "Seleção Sub-19 - Ficha de Jogo, resultados e equipas | FPF". www.fpf.pt.
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