Juventus are still in search of the individual who will fill the role of the club’s new sporting director, completing the management lineup alongside Comolli, Modesto and Chiellini. Recently, the name Marco Ottolini was gaining traction, but according to reports from IlBianconero, his candidacy is now challenged by a new figure: Bernardo Palmeiro.
Who is Bernardo Palmeiro?
Bernardo Palmeiro is a 41-year-old executive born in Lisbon, currently serving as the general director at Sporting since October 2024. He already held a position at Sporting from 2020 to 2023 as a consultant to Hugo Viana, the club’s former sporting director who moved to Manchester City in the summer of 2025.
Palmeiro is a qualified lawyer, having graduated from the Faculty of Law at the University of Lisbon. He earned two master’s degrees: one in tax law from ISCTE and another in management from the Catholic University. He started his professional career in 2006 at the prominent PLMJ law firm specialising in tax law. However, driven by his ambition to pursue a career in sports, he resumed studies in 2012.
Experience at FIFA
He obtained a specialist degree in sports management from AISTS, an academy in Switzerland founded by the Olympic Committee in partnership with the universities of Geneva and Lausanne. Shortly thereafter, he was recruited by the International Olympic Committee, recognising his potential to fill significant roles.
Palmeiro worked for six months as a project consultant before moving to FIFA, where he spent four years, initially as a legal consultant and later as legal head. His duties included representing FIFA at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS), managing doping cases, and implementing good governance principles.
These four years at FIFA were pivotal in shaping Palmeiro as a sports executive and helped him build an extensive network among various important clubs.
Founder of a Sports Law Firm
In 2017, Palmeiro left FIFA to establish 14 Sports Law, a Portuguese law firm fully dedicated to sports. The firm frequently advises agents on transfers, enabling him to develop a robust network among player agents. Leveraging these contacts, he joined Sporting in 2020 to support Hugo Viana, a role he held for three seasons. He is brother-in-law to Francisco Salgado Zenha and has developed a strong trust relationship with Sporting’s president Frederico Varandas.
Role at Rio Ave
In 2023, Palmeiro moved from Sporting to Rio Ave, where he was key in negotiations with Evangelos Marinakis for the Greek businessman’s investment in the club’s Sociedade Anónima Desportiva (SAD). Even after leaving Rio Ave, he has maintained relationships with clubs and athletes, including involvement in João Palhinha’s recent transfer to Bayern Munich.
