The Resurrection of Bruma
Armindo Tué Na Bangna (known as Bruma) was highly touted to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Paulo Futre, Luís Figo, Luís Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo as an exciting, irreverent wide forward formed at Sporting Clube de Portugal’s illustrious Alcochete academy.
Bruma racked up 80 appearances for Portugal’s international youth teams at various age groups, called up way back in 2014 by Paulo Bento as a replacement for the injured Cristiano Ronaldo. However, his international career was to reflect his eventual turbulent journeyman career – failing to live up to sky-high expectations.
Bruma featured in nine international fixtures, scoring once, before falling out of consideration entirely. However, in November 2023, Bruma returned. In March 2024, he even managed to score. The cherry on top of Bruma’s most productive season at club level, contributing to 18 goals in 38 appearances for Sporting Clube de Braga – including seven in the UEFA Champions League (including qualifying rounds).
We’re not even halfway through the season, but Bruma is three goal contributions from matching that record. This is the story of his turbulent rise and meteoric resurrection.
The Beginning at Sporting
União Desportiva Internacional de Bissau of Bruma’s native Guinea-Bissau housed this promising pacey and irreverent attacker with his characteristic lean frame but exquisite technical ability to compensate. From his early teens, Bruma possessed an uncommon ability to not only create but also score goals, seen as the perfect diamond in the rough by Sporting academy staff.
To this day, Bruma is an archetype of wide forward who will relentlessly target isolated defenders to bypass with the intention of diagonal, inverted movements to facilitate or resolve individually. Bruma creates chaos and panic for opposition defenders.
After almost 50 goals in two academy seasons, Bruma was labelled as the ‘Next Cristiano Ronaldo’ by the English press, as Chelsea Football Club were rumoured to be interested in securing the signature of Bruma in an operation reminiscent of the modern day.
Following the prestigious trajectory of former Sporting academy prospects can be seen as a gift or a curse. In 2010, Sporting’s internal Stromp awards were hosted, and Bruma was recognised in the ‘Academy’ category. Despite circulating interest in the youngster, Bruma would sign his first professional contract with ‘Os Leões’.
Bruma would score over 80 goals at academy level. His trajectory was significantly accelerated, and age was no obstacle as 16-year-old Bruma entrusted with vital responsibilities at U19 level as Sporting would win the National Championship.
That following season? Senior professional football at Second Division level left Bruma unfazed as he contributed to a goal every three matches as an undisputed central figure from both flanks. Jesualdo Ferreira would promote and deputise Bruma for the Sporting first-team in an operation mirroring Ralf Rangnick at Manchester United, accumulating an interim manager role with football operations management.
Sporting would finish 7th (their worst ever league position), but the rise of talents like Bruma would provoke hope for the near future. Then, in typical Bruno de Carvalho fashion, came the controversy.
How it started, and how it ended – The transition between Sporting’s
‘I didn’t even like playing football, I just wanted to be near my mum and go to the market with her. All I wanted was food to eat… ‘
‘I’d go to school, then I’d go to the market with my mum. It got in the way, of course. I started watching my brother playing in the street, then I’d pick up the ball and try to play, and that’s how I started.’
Bruma also explained the origins behind his name on the official Sporting Clube de Braga club podcast:
‘A friend of my father’s called him Bruma. When he passed away, to leave a mark, they started calling me Bruma at home and as time passed, I began to like the name.’
‘When I was born, my father died, I didn’t get to know him, it’s a sad story. My mum took care of all of us and it wasn’t easy.’
Braga president António Salvador is seen by Bruma as a father figure. Respect between talismen, one on the field, another who propelled Braga to transform the ‘Big 3’ narrative slowly into the ‘Big 4’ during his 21-year tenure and counting.
‘We have a good relationship, like father and son. From time to time, we get upset, but that’s normal. He’s a good president and has a good heart.’
Moreso than Salvador, Cátio Baldé was pivotal in the trajectory of Bruma, for better or for worse. The agent who brought Bruma initially from Guinea-Bissau to the doorsteps of Benfica, and eventually to Sporting as the red side of Lisbon were unable to recognise the talent and potential of the 13-year-old.
Cátio was seen as Bruma’s mentor and father figure in the sport, even offering Bruma his first car – a Mercedes C220, as a reward for passing his driving exams.
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As aforementioned, ex-Sporting Clube de Portugal president Bruno de Carvalho was no stranger to controversy – being labelled the ‘Donald Trump of Football’ by various media outlets. Cátio Baldé would challenge de Carvalho for the title.
Baldé would accuse Bruno de Carvalho of attempting to kidnap and intimate Bruma into renewing his contract, resulting in an attempted premature divorce. Bruma and his representatives claimed that his contract terminated beyond the 2012/13 season, while Sporting defended the validity of that contract until 2014.
Sporting won the battle in the courts, however, the player left for Galatasaray regardless as relationships were highly hostile. 12 million euros were worth gold for Sporting, then in serious financial turmoil. Both Baldé and de Carvalho would become notorious for arduous negotiation styles – remember Adrien Silva to Leicester City?
Bruma would later look back with regret, saying he would’ve never left Sporting, knowing what he knew today. Regardless, history would (kind of) repeat itself. Bruma would represent RB Leipzig and PSV Eindhoven, but not without controversy surrounding the latter transfer.
Porto Canal (TV channel with connections to Futebol Clube do Porto) would reveal information surrounding an agreement between Leipzig and Porto for a fee of 15 million euros and a hefty annual salary. However, disagreements over financial conditions ended up frustrating the deal, and the player opted to remain abroad.
Catió Baldé justified the decision as a personal choice by the player, who preferred to continue his career outside Portugal. The manager denied that financial issues were the determining factor, emphasising Bruma’s desire to progress in foreign leagues.
Baldé would prejudice the career of Umaro Embaló in this fashion, a player primed to move from Benfica to, you guessed it, RB Leipzig, for 15 million euros. An outspoken figure unshy to voicing defences of his clients. Baldé would also be accused of assaulting José Fouto (fellow agent) over the commission of the transfer of Rúben Semedo from Sporting to Villarreal. Never a dull day with Catió.
As well as contractual disputes, Catió Baldé faced accusations relating to obtaining visas for players from his academy in Bissau. In an interview, he admitted to paying an official from the Portuguese embassy in Guinea-Bissau to speed up the process, but denied any involvement from Benfica, the club that would receive the players for trials with increased regularity.
Baldé’s story is marked by ups and downs, including a three-year stint in prison. He also admitted to resorting to mystical practices, such as sacrificing chickens, during his career as a coach in Guinean grassroots football. No wonder Bruma had the turbulent career he did.
Loan spells at Gaziantep, Real Sociedad, Olympiacos and Fenerbahçe would additionally bridge the journey between Sporting’s, before reaching the stable, welcoming environment of Braga where Bruma would settle and benefit from consistency.
Stability was previously traded for tastes of success.
- 2014/15: Süper Lig
- 2013/14 & 2014/15: Turkish Cup
- 2016: Turkish Super Cup
- 2020/21: Greek Super League
- 2021/22: KNVB Cup
- 2021: Johan Cruyff Shield
At international level, Bruma was never doubted:
- 2013: FIFA U-20 World Cup Silver Shoe
- 2017: UEFA European Under-21 Championship Bronze Boot
And the first inheritor of the iconic number seven in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo. Far from your typical career.
Bruma is now the most potent weapon in Braga’s arsenal, the nickname ‘Arsenalistas’ and red and white influence across the club is Gunner-coded.
The leader of ‘Arsenal do Minho’
The likes of Abel Ruiz, Simon Banza and Paulinho have departed in recent seasons, and living club legend Ricardo Horta isn’t firing as he has previously. Bruma has seriously stepped up amidst a tamer offensive supporting cast as the most productive protagonist.
Unencumbered by injuries or sharp drops in performance, affected by volatile context, Bruma will naturally be the constant inspiration expected to justify the entrance fee by fans, signing off with his Christopher Nkunku-esque celebrations.
Despite this, Bruma continues irreverent as ever, in the top 2% for successful take-ons in comparison with ‘Top 14 League’ positional peers (as per Fbref). FotMob outlines his 4.39 successful dribbles per 90 minutes.
Bruma is an excellent, energetic carrier with an eye for the final pass. Despite his evident technical qualities, he’s naturally erratic in decision making phases – the natural drawback of the archetype. Bruma is technical and physical before mental, without overwhelming intelligence to choose his moments which is increasingly important in the modern game with emphasis on control.
He’s a shot-creator through following subsequent actions: 0.90 final-third ball recoveries and 5.94 duels won per 90 minutes outline his work ethic and relentless playstyle, overall mirroring some offensive tendencies and features of Alejandro Garnacho.
Braga see themselves in 5th position, behind revelation of the year Santa Clara, with their erratic defence being exposed and criticised with regularity. Despite this, Braga are in a comfortable position to advance to the next round of the UEFA Europa League, remaining in the other domestic competitions. Any success seen this season will be largely thanks to Bruma, resurrected and better than ever.
By: Kevin Araujo Fernandes / @kevinaraujof
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Soccrates Images / Getty Images