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Ricardo Quaresma profile: 10 things you need to know about Chelsea's new signing

Portuguese star Ricardo Quaresma made a surprise deadline day move to Chelsea, linking up with his former Portugal boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Once regarded as a rival to Cristiano Ronaldo for the accolade of Portugal's most promising player, Quaresma has won the lot in his homeland but struggled in Spain and Italy. Could a move to the Premier League re-ignite his career?

Here's your essential need-to-know about the man known as the Gypsy of Portugal:

1. A gifted winger in the mould of compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo, he was born on 26 September 1983 in Lisbon, Portugal.

2. His nickame is Cigano, which literally translates as 'Gypsy', a reference to Quaresma's ethnic heritage. "I am proud of my origins and I see no need to hide them," he said back in 2003. "My father and uncle were gypsy and so is my girlfriend and I am proud of that."

3. He is an expert in the shooting technique known as 'Trivela'. Practiced in the past by the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and Roberto Carlos, it involves striking the ball with the outside of the foot to create extreme bend. Here's Quaresma himself to show you how it's done:

4. A product of Sporting Lisbon's famed youth academy, he made his debut for the senior team aged just 17. A year later Quaresma helped Sporting to the league and cup double, playing 28 times and chipping in with three goals.

5. He won the UEFA U17 European Championship with Portugal in 2000, and made his full debut aged 20 against Bolivia in 2003. He has since won 24 caps (and scored three goals), but missed out on Euro 2004 through injury, and the 2006 World Cup due to poor form.

6. Regarded as one of Europe's finest young talents, he moved to Barcelona in 2003 for a transfer fee in the region of 6million euros. Quaresma failed to make the grade at the Bernabeu, however, and after making just 10 starts for the Catalan club he endured a very public falling out with then manager Frank Rijkaard.

7. Having vowed never to play for Rijkaard again, Quaresma was quickly moved on to Porto as part of a deal that sent current Chelsea star Deco the other way. He scored on his debut in the 2004 UEFA Super Cup Final against Valencia but still ended up on the losing side. He was more successful in that season's FIFA Intercontinental Cup, mind, notching in the 8-7 penalty shootout win over Colombian side Once Caldas.

8. He won three Portuguese league titles at Porto (including another double in the 2005/06 season), and was named the country's Footballer of the Year twice, in 2005 and 2006. Unsurprisingly, the Porto fans consider Quaresma one of the best players ever to pull on the blue and white shirt. Here's why:

9. New Inter boss Jose Mourinho took him to Italy on the final day of the 2008 summer transfer window in a deal reported to be worth 18m euros, and which also saw young midfielder Pele – currently on loan at Portsmouth, of course – move in the other direction.

10. Once again Quaresma has failed to shine on a bigger stage, though. Mourinho himself has criticised the player's workrate, and an Italian radio station awarded him the Golden Bin for most disappointing player in Serie A. Chelsea will be hoping they get the Portuguese version of Quaresma…

Izvor: Mirror