Portugal: Nuno Gomes

Nuno Gomes was relegated to Serie B with Fiorentina after a tortuous season, but there remains little question of his top-drawer quality.

The Portugal striker battled to keep cash-strapped Fiorentina afloat in Serie A against the odds, and his departure now looks inevitable.

The World Cup now offers the livewire frontman an ideal platform to impress potential suitors.

He benefited from Euro 2000 with his subsequent €20million switch from Benfica to the Italians, and Liverpool coach Gerard Houllier is among his admirers.

When arriving at Fiorentina, Gomes was seen as a ready-made replacement for recently-departed Gabriel Batistuta, and there was money made available to Fatih Terim to extend and improve the squad.

Now that has situation has soured, he sees his career away from Florence and recently said he believed the club could sell him at any time.

‘‘I arrived at a difficult moment, but I am here and cannot change my situation,’’ he said.

‘‘Now I am happy however, happy about my choice. I do not know what will happen in the future, but now I am in Florence and I want to help my team.’’

Gomes began his professional career with Boavista in 1994.

He was born into a soccer-mad family and said: ‘‘I think that throughout my life there has always been a football close to me.’’

Gomes’ younger brother is also a striker for home-town club Amarante.

A nimble marksman, Gomes is in the fortunate position of being in the same side as midfield geniuses Luis Figo and his former Fiorentina team-mate Rui Costa.

Until recently, there was a lack of punch about the Portugal frontline, with pint-sized Joao Pinto the regular line-leader.

Now, with Nuno Gomes and Bordeaux’s Pauleta such dominating figures in attack, there is a real sense of anticipation ahead of the finals.

‘‘I would like to be the star of the national team,’’ said Gomes.

‘‘Going to the World Cup is like a distant dream which can only be realised by a few.’’

Gomes took 15 games to open his international scoring account but the wait was worth it as he stole in to lash home the winner in Portugal’s 3-2 win over England in Euro 2000.

After consulting with Rui Costa, now of AC Milan but then a proud violet, he chose Florence as his destination, saying: ‘‘I would like to be part of the history of this club like Batistuta and Rui Costa.’’

The goals dried up for Gomes and his team-mates this season though, and a third-round UEFA Cup exit to French club Lille hit the club financially.

Gomes added: ‘‘Without offending my club-mates, perhaps the Portuguese players are stronger and therefore it is easier for me to score.’’

As welcome as bumper pay cheques undoubtedly are, there comes a time when a footballer wants silverware and as he approaches his second major finals, Gomes is hankering for success.

‘‘Now I am dreaming of winning the World Cup,’’ said Gomes. ‘‘It is an exaggerated ideal, but that is what dreams are for.’’