Monza have reached the international break with a different outlook after ending their long wait for a Serie A victory by beating Sassuolo, and Gustavo Varela has become the clearest symbol of that change. The 21-year-old Portuguese forward scored both goals against the Emilian side, taking his league return to four in five appearances after arriving from Benfica for €2 million.
Key takeaways
- Varela is currently the highest-scoring Portuguese player across Europe’s five major leagues, with four Serie A goals.
- His brace against Sassuolo helped Monza secure their first league win after a difficult opening spell.
- Monza signed the striker after his productive loan season at Gil Vicente, where he played 32 matches and scored six times.
- Varela has also scored twice in the Coppa Italia against Avellino and has established himself as Monza’s first-choice number nine.
- He has joined Portugal Under-21s during the break, having registered three goals in five games for the national youth side.
A summer signing already central to Monza
The Sassuolo result has given Monza a welcome pause in the season, but it has also underlined the value of a recruitment decision made during the summer. Varela was brought in from Benfica after progressing through Benfica B and making his senior debut for the Lisbon club. His subsequent spell with Gil Vicente offered the regular football that helped shape the player Monza have now placed at the heart of a youthful project.
His early scoring record has set him apart among Portuguese players in leading European leagues. Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes is next on three goals, while Fabio Silva of Borussia Dortmund, Lille’s Tiago Santos and Lecce defender Tiago Gabriel have two each. Varela’s tally also places him ahead of Milan’s Gonçalo Ramos and Rafael Leao, the former Milan player now facing criticism in Turkey.
There is more to the Monza forward’s start than numbers. He has shown his threat in the air, notably with the powerful header that beat Muric, while his goal at San Siro against Inter displayed his ability to protect possession under pressure in the penalty area before finishing. His physical presence allows him to hold up the ball, but he can also combine with teammates and make runs beyond the defence.
Those qualities have begun to draw interest from clubs beyond Serie A. For Monza, however, the immediate significance lies in the hierarchy created during the first five league rounds. Andrea Petagna was sold to Pisa, while Patrick Cutrone was retained as an alternative in attack. The two forwards have shown they can share the pitch, yet Varela’s league goals and his double in the cup win over Avellino have made him the established starter.
Juric’s instruction and the next stage
Varela’s ascent has come quickly, although his own assessment reflects the adjustment required by Italian football. “The standard is high in Italy,” he said. “This league is much tougher than the one I came from in every respect. Juric told me to enjoy myself, help the team and give everything without holding back.”
He has responded in precisely those terms. Monza’s management identified him as a player capable of growing with the club, and the early evidence suggests that the €2 million investment was a well-judged one. With four Serie A goals in five outings, plus two more in the Coppa Italia, he has given the side a reference point at the front during a crucial part of their campaign.
The break offers Varela another setting in which to continue his progress. He has travelled to join Portugal Under-21s, for whom he already has three goals in five appearances. If he maintains this rate through the season, the discussion around Monza’s young centre-forward may soon extend well beyond a promising first chapter in Serie A.
