Umaro Baldé (footballer, born 2002)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 October 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Quelele, Guinea-Bissau | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Gafanha | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2014 | Damaiense | ||
| 2014–2019 | Sporting CP | ||
| 2019–2021 | Rangers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022 | Pacific FC | 4 | (0) |
| 2023– | Gafanha | ||
| International career | |||
| 2017 | Portugal U15 | 5 | (1) |
| 2017 | Portugal U16 | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 November 2022 | |||
Umaro Baldé (born 7 October 2002) is a footballer who plays for Gafanha in the Portuguese District Championships. Born in Guinea-Bissau, he represented Portugal at youth international level.
Early life
[edit]Baldé grew up in Quelele, Guinea-Bissau in poverty, with his family moving to Portugal when he was eight or nine for a better lifestyle.[1][2] At the age of 12, Balde joined the youth academy of Portuguese fifth tier side Damaiense.[1] After impressing in a match against the Sporting CP Youth Academy in a tournament, he was asked to join their program.[2] In 2019, he left Sporting.[3]
In 2019, he signed a contract with Scottish club Rangers' youth academy,[4][5] joining on a two-year contract.[6] He made his U18 debut in a pre-season friendly against Partick Thistle on 8 July.[7] Playing mainly with the U18 squad, he appeared for the club in UEFA Youth League matches,[8][9] as well as the reserve team.[10] He left the club by mutual consent on 1 February 2021.[11] After departing Rangers, he returned to Portugal and then participated in a two-month intensive training program with Prestige Sports to maintain fitness.[12]
Club career
[edit]In early 2022, he went on trial with Canadian Premier League club Pacific FC during their pre-season.[13] On 16 March 2022, Balde signed his first professional contract with Pacific for the 2022 season.[14][15] On 28 May, he debuted for Pacific FC during a 2–2 draw with Valour FC.[16] At the end of the year, Baldé departed the club.[17]
In the summer of 2023, he joined Portuguese club Gafanha.[18]
International career
[edit]He represented Portugal at the U15 and U16 levels.[19][20] In 2020, he was called up to a camp for the Portugal U18 team.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Morgan, James (10 March 2020). "Rangers' Umaro Balde willing to graft to regain Portugal place". The Herald.
- ^ a b Neves, Fábio (7 November 2019). "Entrevista a Umaro Baldé "A rivalidade do Rangers contra o Celtic é enorme"" [Interview with Umaro Baldé “Rangers' rivalry against Celtic is huge”]. Domínio de Bola (in Portuguese).
- ^ Williams, Craig (5 June 2019). "Rangers set to announce signing of Portuguese youngster Umaro Balde". Football Scotland.
- ^ Jack, Christopher (28 October 2019). "Umaro Balde loving life in Glasgow after leaving Sporting Lisbon to join Rangers". Glasgow Times.
- ^ Kerr, Stephen (22 October 2019). "Umaro Balde Q&A Highlights". Rangers F.C.
- ^ Nash, Matthew (23 May 2019). "Reported Rangers newbie Umaro Balde was once jokingly valued at £22m". The Boot Room.
- ^ Callaghan, Shane (9 July 2019). "Rangers appear to have signed Umaro Balde after youth debut". HITC.
- ^ "Umaro Balde Shows Off New Piece of Jewellery". Everything Rangers. 8 March 2020.
- ^ Dawson, Matt (26 March 2020). "Umaro Balde could be Rangers' Kamara successor". Football Fancast.
- ^ Adeniyi, Dami (17 March 2022). "Pacific FC signs Portuguese midfielder Umaro Baldé". DamiAdeniyi.[dead link]
- ^ Carlisle, Jordan (1 February 2021). "Rangers academy starlet officially leaves Ibrox in late deadline day exit". Rangers News.
- ^ "Done deal - Umaro Baldé (19) verruilt Rangers FC voor Pacific FC" [Done deal - Umaro Baldé (19) exchanges Rangers FC for Pacific FC]. Prestige Sports (in Dutch). 23 March 2022.
- ^ Veth, Manuel (16 March 2022). "Umaro Baldé joins Pacific FC - "Want to continue to develop young players"". Transfermarkt.
- ^ "Pacific FC signs Portuguese midfielder Umaro Baldé". Canadian Premier League. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
- ^ "Pacific FC Signs Umaro Baldé of Portugal Amid Spring Training". Our Sports Central. 16 March 2022.
- ^ Moreton, Bailey (29 May 2022). "Much-changed Pacific FC tie Valour FC at Langford's Starlight Stadium". Victoria News.
- ^ Jacques, John (2 November 2022). "Haynes, Polisi, And Balde Depart Pacific FC". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "GD Gafanha SAD pretende "potenciar ao máximo" o plantel na 1.ª Divisão Distrital" [GD Gafanha SAD intends to "maximize" the squad in 1st District Division]. AFA TV (in Portuguese). 27 September 2023.
- ^ Jacques, John (16 March 2022). "Pacific Adds Umaro Balde From Rangers Academy". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Silva, Flávio Miguel (16 March 2022). "Canadá: Ex-Sporting Umaro Baldé vai jogar no Pacific" [Canada: Former Sporting player Umaro Baldé will play for Pacific]. Record (in Portuguese).
External links
[edit]- Umaro Baldé at Soccerway
- Umaro Baldé national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
- Umaro Baldé club profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
- 2002 births
- Living people
- Bissau-Guinean emigrants to Portugal
- Portuguese sportspeople of Bissau-Guinean descent
- Portuguese men's footballers
- Bissau-Guinean men's footballers
- Men's association football midfielders
- Portugal men's youth international footballers
- Canadian Premier League players
- Sporting CP footballers
- Rangers F.C. players
- Pacific FC players
- Bissau-Guinean expatriate men's footballers
- Portuguese expatriate men's footballers
- Expatriate men's footballers in Scotland
- Bissau-Guinean expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
- Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
- Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
- Bissau-Guinean expatriate sportspeople in Canada
- Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in Canada
- G.D. Gafanha players
- 21st-century Portuguese sportsmen