Once hailed as Portugal’s future, Porto winger Ricardo Quaresma is now fighting for a World Cup place

It was a moment of uncontrolled rage from Ricardo Quaresma. Chasing after Nacional’s Marcal, moments after the final whistle in Sunday night's 2-1 defeat to, the red mist had clearly descended.

Restrained by his own team-mates and at one point even the assistant referee, this was the implosion Portuguese fans had been so desperate to avoid. 

Potentially throwing away three months of stellar form with the club, rumours that claimed his opponent had racially abused him were later confirmed on the club’s TV channel by president Pinto da Costa. “First of all I would like to pay my sympathy to Ricardo Quaresma because I am against any racist act,” he said. 

An issue that has long plagued the man nicknamed ‘Cigano’ (Gypsy), he ominously told O Jogo last week: "When I hear people say there is no racism nowadays it makes me laugh. When something happens in Portugal it's always fault of gypsies, blacks, immigrants. It's tough to live with this.” 

Having avoided any further action from the league’s disciplinary council,  the situation was a stark contrast to the one he found himself in just weeks ago. Then he had just silenced Napoli’s Stadio San Paolo, a solo effort drawing Porto level on the night and edging them in front, 3-2 on aggregate.

Attitude

Yet as many fawned over the individual brilliance of his eighth goal in 15 matches, something altogether more unique had shone through -- his attitude.

Harrying the opposition and contributing defensively, Quaresma’s application was clear to see. Seemingly focused and stable, the 30-year-old no longer embodied his first nickname - ‘the mustang’. Running free. 

Reinforced via an interview with O Jogo on Saturday, this was the new Quaresma. "Of course, talent alone is not enough to have a great career,” he said.

An utterance that was not as profound as intended, for Quaresma - a notoriously disruptive influence, it represented a watershed moment. Although his career had included a Champions League winners’ medal and time at Barcelona and Inter Milan, his potential had not been fulfilled.

As a 17-year-old, he was the future of Portuguese football. Then at Sporting Lisbon, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, his talent earned plenty of suitors.

Yet too often a poor attitude and lack of application have inhibited his career. Signed by Barcelona in the same year Ronaldo joined Manchester United, while the latter flourished, the former floundered.

"I didn't have patience at Barcelona,” Quaresma explained. “I couldn't bear being on the bench. It was an idiotic attitude,” he said, reflecting on his decision to critique Frank Rijkaard’s tactics in public.

Habit

A habit that continued during spells at Internazionale and Turkish side Besiktas -- where he threw a water bottle at manager Carlos Carvalhal -- the trait only ever vanished during his three years at Porto from 2005 until 2008. That was in part due to the work of Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira, who coddled the winger.

“I don’t want him to lose his personality and individuality otherwise he’ll turn into an average player rather than playing like the genius he is,” Ferreira said.

Reflecting on his past, Quaresma admitted: “I made the wrong decisions at key moments in my career. I wanted everything quickly, and this only harmed me.”

Now operating with a maturit