Football Season Guide

Rio Ave had a quiet season in 2022-23, finishing on the bottom half of the table but never having been in danger of being relegated. For the new season, Rio Ave is facing a very hard condition: they aren't allowed to sign in with new players, due to a punishment related with the transfer of Olinga in 2021. Alexandrina Cruz, the first women to ever run a club in Portuguese top flight, had to take quick actions, and her first was to secure Luís Feire in dugout. A highly important move, since Freire showed promising signs with this same squad, last season. Not being able to bring any new signings, Rio Ave tried to keep all the squad from last season, and they only lost 3 players: Baeza and Paulo Vítor returned to owner club, while Samaris finished contract. Jhonatan is a great goalkeeper to have on the ranks; Costinha is one of the best right-backs in league; Aderllan continued the leader of defence; Patrick, Josué Sá and Nóbrega are very decent options for centre-back. Sávio is a quality left-back, even if not always the first choice due to Freire's preferred 3-5-2 formation. Guga is the main reference in midfield; Fábio Ronaldo is perhaps the biggest talent on the squad, Boateng, André Pereira and Ruiz need to be more regular and consistent to bring goals to Vila do Conde. Without any new signing, the 18-years old Jorge Karseladze is the hottest prospect on the squad, but unsure to have enough minutes during the season to impress his fans already in this season.