The Revs made a huge splash today in the soccer world. OK, maybe not that HUGE, they didn’t sign a big name player. Today the New England Revolution signed 
a partnership deal with Sporting Lisbon of Portugal. I am holding back my excitement because this is the team I support in the world game!!! This deal will help both clubs with training, scouting, and loaning of players. This is the first International partnership deal the Revs have ever signed.
The main idea behind this deal is to promote training and development methods for both the clubs’ first teams and youth squads. The Revolution will be able to bring in Sporting players on loan. Additionally, the teams will share scouting resources between the organizations.
For those who may not follow the game that close, SCP has one of the top 10 best youth academies in the world! This is the youth system Cristiano Ronaldo grew up in, along side national legend Luis Figo. Several members of the current SCP 25 man roster are graduates of their youth academy, many of which have represented Portugal for the u20 squads and many for the senior team. Several members of the Portugal squad that represented during the most recent world cup are SCP academy graduates.
This doesn’t mean that their best of the best will be loaned here. Those players will either be scouted and bought by bigger European teams, promoted to the SCP first team, or loaned out to the team’s other feeder clubs through out Europe. Doesn’t mean that we wont see players who will be called to the under-20 Portugal squad. Time will tell and what the Rev’s needs are in the off season I’m sure they will look at SCP youth academy and recent graduates to fill those roles.