Leeds United head coach Steve Evans has saluted youngster Ronaldo Vieira, saying he showed what a classy man he is by picking the name Vieira to go on the back of his shirt instead of Ronaldo.
The highly rated young Portuguese penned a two-year contract with Leeds earlier this week, his first contract as a professional, and was rewarded by being called into the Whites' squad for Saturday's Championship fixture against Preston North End at Deepdale.
Wearing number 37, Vieira was brought off the bench at the death of the 1-1 draw, Evans handing the youngster his debut.
Before the game, Evans was full of praise for Vieira, feeling the fact the youngster chose to put Vieira on the back of his shirt instead of Ronaldo says much about him.
He told LUTV: "He's a top player and you know what, he's a real nice young man.
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"I've met his father on a couple of occasions and they are real level-headed.
"He had a clear option to put a name on the back of his shirt, Ronaldo or Vieira.
"And with current football status, Ronaldo in Spain, he would have put that name, but he didn't", Evans explained.
"He just said 'My name's Vieira' and it was really classy of that young man to say.
"What two options he had! Ronaldo or Vieira."
It is unclear whether Evans and his staff will have the chance to work on developing the young midfielder next season, as the Scot has yet to be offered an extension to his contract at Elland Road.
Indeed, Evans admitted after the draw at Preston that he does not know whether he will be in his office at the club's Thorp Arch training ground on Monday, planning pre-season.
