José Fonte’s arrival at Crystal Palace is today recalled in the Portuguese media.
As the defender gave A Bola quite a long interview, he talked about the time he first flew to England to start his career abroad.
Fonte spent a long time playing for multiple clubs in Portugal, and was only actually acknowledged once he made the transfer to Crystal Palace. He claims that’s when his career actually kicked off.
“Defining the exact moment is difficult, but if I had to choose a time, it would have to be when I decided to try my luck in England. Knowing that I was going to Crystal Palace in England’s second division at the time, my ambition and goal was always to reach the Premier League. It took a few years, but I never gave up, I always kept working with that clear goal in mind and I managed to achieve it.”
“Ever since I was a kid I watched the Premier League, saw the games, the players, and had the dream and ambition to play there. The fact that my brother was at Arsenal at the time, aged 16, gave me even more of a desire to go and be closer to him so that I could help in any way I could. And when I was offered the chance to leave for Crystal Palace, initially on loan from Benfica, I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and went all out, determined to make it in English football.”
Crystal Palace managed to sign Fonte from Benfica with no outlay in 2007. They had him at the club for two and a half years, with him making 92 appearances there.
In January 2010, Southampton bought him for €9.2m. The defender spent seven years with the Saints, and they’re the club he has the most appearances for.
Fonte then played for West Ham United, DL Yufang, LOSC Lille and finally SC Braga. His contract with the Portuguese side is expiring this summer, and he’s set to become a free agent.
