Diego Moreira vows to play for Standard, father Almami says

Diego Moreira, the 22‑year‑old winger who has impressed at Strasbourg, says he still dreams of wearing Standard’s red‑white shirt, a sentiment echoed by his father Almami Moreira, who told La Dernière Heure the youngster repeatedly promises to return to the Belgian club.

Born in Liège, Diego Moreira is the son of former Standard midfielder Almami Moreira, who logged 128 appearances for the club. He is also the grandson of Helmut Graf, who amassed 221 matches for the Rouches.

Moreira trained at the high‑altitude facility of Sart‑Tilman until he turned 16 in 2020. He then joined Benfica to complete his development and earned caps for Portugal’s youth teams.

At Strasbourg, the winger enjoyed his best half‑season to date, attracting attention for his attacking contributions. His form positions him as a potential replacement for Jeremy Doku, who is sidelined by injury.

Among the Belgian squad for the upcoming World Cup are Standard players Nathan Ngoy, Arthur Theate, Thomas Meunier, Axel Witsel and Nicolas Raskin, all described as having ‘rouche‑blood’ in their veins. Their presence underscores the club’s deep ties to the national team.

Almami Moreira told La Dernière Heure, “One day Diego will again play for Standard. He says it to me often. Not now, but also not when it is too late. Standard is his home, my home and my grandfather Helmut’s home.” He added that the family’s connection to the club remains strong despite recent challenges.

Diego recently rejected an invitation from Portugal manager Roberto Martinez, opting instead to align with the Belgian Red Devils. He cited respect for his Belgian roots as the reason for the decision.

With another World Cup still to be contested, Moreira’s future move to Standard may materialise after the tournament. Fans and club officials alike will watch his progress at Strasbourg closely.