"What we are doing is not just laying the foundation stone for the Football Academy, but also starting the journey towards the future Sports City," the mayor of Santarém, João Leite, told Lusa.

The mayor explained that the sports city project will be developed in three phases, with an execution timeframe of seven to eight years.

The first phase includes the construction of three pitches: one for seven-a-side football, another for nine and one for eleven, as well as supporting infrastructure, such as changing rooms, conference rooms and stands.

The equipment, according to the mayor, is “intended for training athletes and holding national and international events” and is the result of a partnership with the Santarém Football Association and the Portuguese Football Federation.

The Portuguese Football Federation will support the project with 600 thousand euros and the rest of the amount will be obtained by the municipality through bank credit.

Also, according to the mayor of Santarém, the construction of the gym is part of a broader plan, which foresees an overall investment of €15 million over the next three years.

“These investments are very important for promoting physical activity and sports. We see this investment as strategic. We are talking about health and quality of life. We have €15 million to spend over the next three years,” the mayor emphasised.

The second phase of the project includes the construction of a sports court for various sports, with athletics and cycling tracks, while the third phase includes the construction of a stadium, court and training centre.