Wellington Phoenix have a rival player to thank for their latest visa signing, with Auckland FC defender Nando Pijnaker playing a key role in convincing Portuguese midfielder Francisco Geraldes to make the move to New Zealand.
Geraldes, 29, has joined the Phoenix on a short-term loan from Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta’zim, where he is contracted until June 2026. Before signing, the former Portugal under-21 international reached out to Pijnaker, his former teammate at Portuguese club Rio Ave, for advice on life in New Zealand and the A-League.
“Nando Pijnaker, who plays for Auckland, I spoke with him before coming here actually, and he told me a lot of good things about the club, about the league, and about New Zealand,” Geraldes said.
The creative midfielder arrives in Wellington looking to rediscover his passion for the game after a difficult stint in Malaysia, which saw him loaned out to Spanish side CD Eldense before the move was cut short after just three appearances.
“I got a call from Giancarlo [Italiano], the coach, and my first impressions were amazing,” he said. “He’s a very honest and sincere person and gave me a lot of confidence, and that’s what I needed to hear. Right now, the most important thing is to regain the joy from football because I haven’t been playing much, but I know I have a lot of qualities to give.”
Geraldes, a product of Sporting CP—Cristiano Ronaldo’s former club—has amassed 150 appearances in Portugal’s top flight. Phoenix coach Italiano described him as a “natural No. 10” and believes he can help ease the creative burden on star forward Kosta Barbarouses, especially in the absence of injured playmaker Marco Rojas.
“We have some creative players in the team, but it’s more about dynamics and getting a player in that just gives us an extra out,” Italiano said. “The way our team is set up, there’s a lot of focus on Kosta, and it makes it harder for him to get on the ball. Chico [Geraldes] is very similar to the style that Marco is, and I’m really looking forward to seeing that dynamic pan out.”
Geraldes is unlikely to feature in the Phoenix’s next match against Melbourne Victory on Friday night, but Italiano expects him to settle in quickly. His debut could come next Saturday when Wellington face Auckland in the season’s third New Zealand derby at Go Media Stadium.