“Leaving is difficult” – Chelsea-bound player emotional after final home game

Chelsea will receive Geovany Quenda this summer after the winger delivered an emotional farewell to Sporting supporters at Alvalade this weekend.

Saturday’s match against Gil Vicente represented the 19-year-old’s final home appearance before his move to Stamford Bridge. And while the result itself carried little pressure – Porto had already secured the Portuguese title – the atmosphere around Quenda told a different story.

The academy graduate came off the bench for the final 20 minutes and still managed to leave one last mark, providing the assist for Sporting’s final goal of the night. Then came the goodbye.

Emotional farewell before Chelsea move

Quenda struggled to hide his emotions after the match. As widely relayed by the Portuguese pressthe winger admitted the final weeks have been difficult as he prepares to leave the club he joined at the age of 11.

“It has been difficult for me. Even on my birthday, when I spoke to my teammates, I told them these last few weeks had been hard,” he said.

“Leaving a club that welcomed me since I was 11, helped me a lot, and not only me but also my family, obviously it is difficult. I’m even getting goosebumps now. I just have to thank this club.”

The emotion became even clearer when he was asked what went through his mind while looking at the stands after the final whistle.

“A lot of things. I went through a lot to reach the first team. Everyone who enters the academy has the dream of one day reaching the first team,” Quenda explained.

“I worked for it and managed to achieve my dream. It was not for long, only two seasons, but I managed to win two titles and I will try for the third one that is still missing.”

One final trophy before Chelsea

That final objective is now very clear. Sporting still have the Taça de Portugal final against lower-league side Torreense next weekend. It will almost certainly be Quenda’s final appearance before officially becoming a Chelsea player.

He wants to leave with one more medal.

“Next week we have another title to fight for and I will give everything so the Portuguese Cup can stay here again,” he added.

But his farewell continued after the match. On Sunday, Quenda posted a short message to supporters on social media.

“Thank you, Alvalade. It was special, believe me.”

For Chelsea, this is the version of Quenda they are inheriting now.

Not the injured teenager who struggled for months after fracturing his foot. Not the uncertain talent Portuguese columnists recently worried could get lost in Stamford Bridge’s chaos.

Instead, Chelsea are signing a player who returned from injury, regained his place, fulfilled a personal promise to score again before leaving, and is now one game away from ending his Sporting chapter with another trophy.