'It's a privilege to have Vinicius Jr on board' - Real Madrid star's influence lifting newly-promoted Portuguese side since becoming part-owner

Alves described Vinicius Jr's involvement with the club as a "privilege," highlighting the immense visibility the Real Madrid star provides to the newly-promoted Portuguese side. Vinicius holds a minority stake in the ownership group that acquired the club in early 2025, and his influence is already being felt both on and off the pitch.

The Brazilian's commitment was on full display recently when he made a surprise appearance at Alverca's Primeira Liga match against Benfica, less than 24 hours after scoring for Real Madrid against Mallorca. The visit caught many, including the club's sporting director, off guard.

"I didn't know he was coming, it was a pleasant surprise," Alves admitted to A Bola. "The impact of having such a high-profile figure associated with the club is not lost on the management. The visibility he brings to us as a club, as a country... it's a privilege to have Vini on board."

This follows other promotional activities where the likes of Eduardo Camavinga and rapper Travis Scott were pictured in Alverca jerseys, giving the club what Alves described as "immense" visibility.

Vinicius Jr.'s connection to Alverca comes via his agent, Thassilo Soares, known as 'Tata', who is the club's main investor. Tata, who also represents Premier League stars Lucas Paqueta and Gabriel Martinelli through Roc Nation Sports Brasil, has taken a hands-off approach to squad building, according to Alves. Despite his influence, the sporting director was keen to stress that the agent has not used the club to place his own clients.

"Roc Nation Sports doesn't have a single player here, that is, Tata, the football agent, didn't put a single player here," Alves stated. "He had the legitimacy to do so... but in the end he didn't interfere in any of the sports planning."

As a newly-promoted team, Alverca's primary objective for the 2025-26 season is to maintain their status in the Primeira Liga. The club has already shown positive signs, putting in a competitive performance against giants Benfica. With the solid financial backing of their new ownership and the unparalleled global profile provided by their famous part-owner, the ambitious project is focused on establishing Alverca as a stable top-flight club in Portugal. On Saturday, they will take on Santa Clara in a league match.