Alverca: the Portuguese club thriving with help from Vinícius Júnior | European club football

Alverca have been busy in the last few years. They have shot up the Portuguese pyramid while changing owners, buying a whole new squad and bringing in one of the world’s most famous footballers as a co-owner. The club’s sporting director, Fernando Malta, says they want to be “gamechangers”.

Historically a satellite club for nearby Benfica, Alverca were first promoted to the top flight…