5 things you didn't know about Barcelona's Nelson Semedo

#4 It threatened to fall apart before it even started

Semedo had a tough start at Benfica

Semedo’s career has slow burning, yet patience has not always been the best suit of the Barcelona man. He started out with Benfica as a midfielder, and as he struggled to establish himself in the club’s second team in that role, he had made his mind up to leave.

Had it not been for Helder Cristovao, he might well have done – and he probably would not find himself at Camp Nou now.

“He wanted to leave Benfica B for a smaller team because he wasn’t getting the chance to play in midfield,” Semedo’s former coach explained to O Jogo.

“I managed to convince him to remain with Benfica and play as a right-back. I spoke to him and made him understand the opportunity he had. He made an effort to play as a full-back and now he’s been rewarded for the effort he put in.

“He had to adapt and to have patience, because he had no experience playing on the wing or in defence, but he did very well.”