Sunderland's Brian Brobby has become a key figure at the club following their return to the Premier League and the Dutch striker is now making his mark beyond Wearside.
One player who is getting the most attention is Porto academy striker Tcherno Zamanka, who has recently completed a remarkable campaign in Portugal.
The teenager finished as top scorer in the national under-17 championship with 35 goals and helped Porto secure the title.
Speaking to the club's official media channels this week, as relayed game In Portugal, he opened up about the players he admires and revealed that Brobby is the striker he most identifies with.
Zamanka brought up Cristiano Ronaldo by name in his overall football references, but when asked specifically about his position, the answer was clear.
"I have several. Cristiano Ronaldo. But in my situation, Brian Brobby. He is the one I fit in with the most," he explained.
title winning season
The striker's praise comes after the best season of his young career. Jamanka admitted that he began the campaign with two specific objectives – to become the league's top scorer and to help Porto win the championship. He managed to achieve both goals before the season ended.
When asked to choose his favorite goal among the 35 goals he has scored, the youngster did not hesitate. He pointed to the two goals he scored against Benfica, strikes that proved decisive in Porto's title win.
Kishore also stressed that there is still a lot of room for improvement and said he will continue to learn from the older players at the club.
Sunderland's influence is reaching Portugal
For Sunderland supporters, the comments are an indication of how quickly Brobby's profile has risen.
The Dutch forward played a key role during the Black Cats' first season in the Premier League, scoring seven league goals and helping Regis Le Bris's team establish themselves in the division.
Brobbie arrived with expectations after building his reputation in the Netherlands, and His impact on Sunderland clearly seen elsewhere in Europe.
Jamanka still has a long way to go before making the leap to senior football, but one of Portugal's most talented young strikers is already modeling parts of his game on Sunderland's number nine.
