Swansea City will play Portuguese side Rio Ave on Saturday August 3rd at the swansea.com. The fixture has been arranged after business was done between the Swans and Portuguese side Moreirense earlier this month.

Swans fans were delighted when the signing of Gonçalo Franco was announced recently. A player with all the credentials to succeed in the Championship. Speaking to a source close to Franco this afternoon at ‘Pro master’ in general conversation regards future interviews we learned of the reasons why the friendly fixture is taking place. As a part of the deal to bring Franco to Swansea it was determined a friendly against Rio Ave who play in the top flight in Portugal would be an ideal challenge for the Swans.

People of course will ask why ?

Even supporters of Rio Ave are scratching their heads, or just don’t know the links to Franco and the club. A bit odd, but we are dealing with the likes of two words on social media.

We have been told that when Franco lost his youth scholarship at Porto, it was Rio Ave that took him under their wing as a youngster. The development opportunity that Rio Ave gave Franco has stayed with him, especially when he had no other options. That time at the Big River came at such an opportunistic time, it led to a move to Leixões S.C. and that was the platform for Franco to pursue a career in professional football. His time at Leixões led to senior first team appearances which Moreirense were on to quickly. The rest as they say is history, but Franco hasn’t forgotten Rio Ave.

His agents managed to get the friendly linked in to his transfer, nothing unusual there it happens a lot, but fair play to Franco. He seems a player with morals and clearly very grateful to the club which catapulted him in to professional football.

He looks a diamond anyway, regardless of his long game at Swansea and his desire to play at the top of professional football it’s always nice to report on some good news from Swansea City.

Franco feature —> ⚽️ Franco news

Keep it here on the Indy.

Photograph licensed from Reuters.

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