Fulham manager Marco Silva has revealed they signed midfielder Joao Palhinha because they knew his quality was ‘unquestionable’.
Palhinha joined Fulham in a €20m deal from Sporting Club de Portugal in the summer after impressing for the Portuguese side since arriving in 2020.
He had long been linked with a move to England as a result but it was Fulham who finally got him, moving quickly to secure his signature in the summer ahead of competition from the likes of Wolves.
That has proven to be a smart decision, with Palhinha establishing himself as a key player with a series of impressive performances in the heart of their midfield.
He’s played a pivotal role in Fulham sitting sixth in the table and just three points outside the top five and Silva says they knew he would be a star.
“First, because João has quality, that is unquestionable,” he told Eleven Sports when asked why they moved for him.
“Secondly, because we thought he would adapt very well to English football and because we felt that we needed a player with that profile to often free up our two other midfielders, the midfielders that we play in front of him as well.
“And luckily, he adapted very well. He was very well received and, normally, it is one of the characteristics that this club has, it receives very well. We have a good locker room that welcomed you very well and understood what our idea was.”
Palhinha is not the only Portuguese player to arrive at Craven Cottage this season, with fellow countryman Cedric Soares joining from Arsenal in January.
That move was something of a surprise one given Fulham already have a first choice right back in Kenny Tete, who has also impressed this season.
Soares has arrived as his deputy, filling the role that Kevin Mbabu, who was sent on loan to Switzerland in January, had been playing this season.
He failed to really provide competition to Tete this season but Silva is hoping that isn’t the case with Soares.
“We signed Cédric because we clearly wanted and needed a player like him for the position,” he added.
“It will be very competitive between him and Kenny, who has been having a very good season, but we know that Cédric also gives us other things.
“He can play on the left when he needs to, and he gives us the maturity, quality and knowledge of the Premier League that he has.”
