Eintracht Frankfurt's Goncalo Paciencia primed to strike gold in the Bundesliga
Goncalo Paciencia is living the dream: the first Portuguese to sign for Eintracht Frankfurt, the striker is ready for Bundesliga lift-off now that he has strapped on his Eagles' wings.
Mourning the departure of Alexander Meier - the man they called Football God - Frankfurt fans have been finding solace in the smile of their newly acquired marksman Paciencia, who arrived at the club on a four-year deal from FC Porto.
Sweating it out in his opening training sessions on German soil, the forward has all the while been dazzling reporters with his warmth and determination, keen to express his heartfelt enthusiasm for the challenges that await.
"I'm delighted and am really looking forward to being part of the Eintracht family," the ex-Portugal Under-21 goal-getter beamed, adding, "It's a dream for me to play in the Bundesliga."
The son of former Porto striking legend Domingos Paciencia, Goncalo is keen to begin building his own big reputation at the 2018/19 Bundesliga and UEFA Europa League contenders. His muscular build, strength on the ball, fine close control and sharp finishing had Eintracht's Sporting Director Fredi Bobic purring over the possibilities Paciencia presents to last term's eighth-placed Bundesliga finishers.
“We’re getting a proper centre-forward who gives our squad a different dimension,” the former Germany international said. “Goncalo is an agile player who can also hold the ball up.” Speaking to Eintracht's TV channel, Paciencia added, "In my position, the task is to score goals and I want to do just that. I will work hard in order to be an important player."
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The hard work in Germany for the man with one senior Portugal cap began as recently as 18 July. Prior to that, he ended the 2017/18 campaign with a league winners' medal at Porto. Limited to 222 minutes of the Dragons' championship winning run, it was during the first half of the campaign, while on loan at Vitoria Setubal, that Paciencia proved his capabilities. Scoring ten goals and providing six assists in 24 matches for the Portuguese Liga side prompted Porto coach Sergio Conceicao to recall the in-form striker back to base.
New Eintracht coach Adi Hütter can now count on the 2015 UEFA European Under-21 Championship runner-up in his squad, and with Sebastien Haller and Luka Jovic already eager to impress, competition for places up front at the Commerzbank-Arena in 2018/19 is set to sizzle.
"I've always played as a striker but I [just] want to play no matter what the position," Paciencia told Eintracht's official website. "Wherever I can help the team - whether in a central role or [otherwise] - I'll try."
Having earned 50 plus caps at underage level for Portugal, Frankfurt's new man was further convinced to embark upon his Germany adventure by several compatriots who know the Bundesliga well: namely Borussia Dortmund's Raphael Guerreiro and Ricardo Costa, formerly of Wolfsburg.
"I have already played with the Portuguese boys from the Bundesliga and everyone told me, 'Do it! Sign for [Eintracht]! It is a great opportunity for you.' When it came to a club of such stature, I didn't have to think twice."
For now, the bedding in period continues for Paciencia, who has been warmly welcomed into Eintracht's league of nations-style squad, with 22 foreign players making them the most international squad in the Bundesliga.
"The guys here have received me very well," he said. "Frankfurt is a club that has a lot of different nationalities in the squad, which is good, because I don't speak German yet. I would like to learn German quickly so that I do not need an interpreter in a few months."
That first lesson will no doubt contain the German word for goal: Tor.