Umaro Baldé (footballer, born 2002)

Umaro Baldé
Personal information
Date of birth (2002-10-07) 7 October 2002 (age 22)
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

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

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

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

  1. ^ a b c Morgan, James (10 March 2020). "Rangers' Umaro Balde willing to graft to regain Portugal place". The Herald.
  2. ^ 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).
  3. ^ Williams, Craig (5 June 2019). "Rangers set to announce signing of Portuguese youngster Umaro Balde". Football Scotland.
  4. ^ Jack, Christopher (28 October 2019). "Umaro Balde loving life in Glasgow after leaving Sporting Lisbon to join Rangers". Glasgow Times.
  5. ^ Kerr, Stephen (22 October 2019). "Umaro Balde Q&A Highlights". Rangers F.C.
  6. ^ Nash, Matthew (23 May 2019). "Reported Rangers newbie Umaro Balde was once jokingly valued at £22m". The Boot Room.
  7. ^ Callaghan, Shane (9 July 2019). "Rangers appear to have signed Umaro Balde after youth debut". HITC.
  8. ^ "Umaro Balde Shows Off New Piece of Jewellery". Everything Rangers. 8 March 2020.
  9. ^ Dawson, Matt (26 March 2020). "Umaro Balde could be Rangers' Kamara successor". Football Fancast.
  10. ^ Adeniyi, Dami (17 March 2022). "Pacific FC signs Portuguese midfielder Umaro Baldé". DamiAdeniyi.[dead link‍]
  11. ^ Carlisle, Jordan (1 February 2021). "Rangers academy starlet officially leaves Ibrox in late deadline day exit". Rangers News.
  12. ^ "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.
  13. ^ Veth, Manuel (16 March 2022). "Umaro Baldé joins Pacific FC - "Want to continue to develop young players"". Transfermarkt.
  14. ^ "Pacific FC signs Portuguese midfielder Umaro Baldé". Canadian Premier League. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Pacific FC Signs Umaro Baldé of Portugal Amid Spring Training". Our Sports Central. 16 March 2022.
  16. ^ Moreton, Bailey (29 May 2022). "Much-changed Pacific FC tie Valour FC at Langford's Starlight Stadium". Victoria News.
  17. ^ Jacques, John (2 November 2022). "Haynes, Polisi, And Balde Depart Pacific FC". Northern Tribune.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ Jacques, John (16 March 2022). "Pacific Adds Umaro Balde From Rangers Academy". Northern Tribune.
  20. ^ 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).