Pauleta: Nuno Mendes represents 'the future' for PSG | OneFootball

Former Paris Saint-Germain striker Pauleta has backed his Portuguese compatriot Nuno Mendes to succeed at the club.

The 19-year-old left-back joined from Sporting CP on transfer deadline day on a season-long loan with an option to buy.

Mendes helped Sporting land their first Primeira Liga in 19 years last season, and Pauleta was hugely impressed by the youngster’s contribution.

“Honestly, he is a young player of great quality. At 18, he was huge last season, where he showed a lot of attacking qualities and made individual differences in his left lane,” the now 48-year-old told the official Ligue 1 website.

Pauleta also saw Mendes perform for the Portugal’s U-21 side, and believes the teenager’s versatility will prove a valuable asset to the French giants.

“I really appreciate his mentality and his physical abilities. Although he played more of a wing-back role with Sporting, he is also capable of playing in a four-man defense,” the former Portugal international said.

“He has a profile similar to that of Achraf Hakimi, but he is less efficient in front of goal. It’s the present and the future for Paris Saint-Germain.”

Mendes made 29 appearances in Sporting’s march to the league title, scoring once and providing one assist.