If he does land a money-spinning Premier League contract this summer, no-one inside Portuguese football will begrudge Rafa Silva.

His form with this season's Primeira Liga surprise packet, SC Braga, has attracted scouts from across Europe to 'The Quarry', with Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton and Southampton all represented regularly.

When first breaking through, Rafa Silva was likened to former Barcelona and Chelsea star Deco, while this season, thanks to his dazzling form, he's been dubbed the 'Portuguese Eden Hazard'.

But his emergence was no smooth ride.

Unlike so many of his Portugal teammates, Rafa Silva wasn't afforded the opportunity of a top-flight academy education. Instead, he spent his junior days with Atletico Povoense and Alverca, before being snapped up by Second Division Feirense at 18 years of age.

Rafa Silva spent several months training with Feirense before getting his chance two seasons ago. In a matter of weeks, the midfielder's performances were attracting the interest of top-flight clubs.

Primarily played as a winger, Rafa Silva also impressed in the No10 role, where he was able to add goals to his impressive game. Soon comparisons were being made with Deco in the local press, though with his greater pace and trickery on the ball, Nani and eventually Eden Hazard were the stars he was being likened with.

Nani's Sporting CP had seen enough and tabled an offer at the end of that first season. Braga soon stepped in with their own bid of €300,000 and Feirense left the decision with the player.

With Sporting insisting he first join their B team, Rafa Silva had heard enough and surprised many by choosing Braga.

Given Sporting's attitude and the bargain basement fee Braga paid, it was suggested at the time Rafa Silva was arriving as a 'project player'.

But then coach Jesualdo Ferreira threw Rafa Silva into his first XI from the start - and the youngster didn't let him down. Ferreira played him as a winger and the youngster stunned pundits with how he instantly settled at Primeira Liga level.

By Christmas, barely five months into his top-flight career, Rafa Silva was being linked with big spending AS Monaco.

"Rafa in Monaco? Only if he is on holiday," Ferreira said at the time. "I also want to go there for a holiday. Leave the kid alone. All this does not help the player."

The hype around Rafa Silva was exploding, the lad from the lower leagues was writing his own fairytale.

"I'm trying to help him become better. To be a better professional. If he is stronger, then so is Braga," added the coach.

"He came from the Second Division. There's a lot of buzz around him, but everyone has forgotten that he is still not the player he is trying to become. I've had many 'Rafas' in my career and it is up to me to improve him, a player of 20 years without experience at this level, and try to find the best individual and collective processes for what he can do."

Ferreira eventually lost his job during that season, but his work with Rafa Silva was recognised by Paulo Bento, who took him to the World Cup last summer.

This season, under Sergio Conceicao, Rafa Silva has taken his game to a new level, becoming a catalyst in Braga's rise to the top four.

Conceicao has played Rafa Silva primarily on the wing, but former Braga fullback and Feirense coach Quim Machado sees his natural position as a central No10.

"There continues to be a debate about where he should play, as a second striker, or No10, or on the wing," says Machado.

"He can certainly play on the left or right, but he is most effective as a No10. He can score more goals.

"I'd like to see him there, but Braga have an important player in that position - Reuben Michael."

It is on the flank this season that Rafa Silva's strengths, his pace, dribbling skill and flair have been exploited to their fullest.

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman and Everton's Roberto Martinez made tentative enquiries in January, but they now risk being crowded out of a summer auction as Manchester United and Liverpool come forward. In England, it's claimed an offer of €7 million would be enough to convince Braga to sell.

However, Lisbon sources have told tribalfootball.com that Braga, given Rafa Silva's national team status and his contract running to 2017, believe a fee in the region of €12 million is a realistic demand.

Machado is well aware of the Premier League interest and is convinced Rafa Silva deserves such a stage.

"In physical terms, at first glance, he may not be very strong, but the quality he has, he may well play in England. It is hard to say what the ideal championship is for him, but in England are some of the best players and for the quality he has, and has shown in these two years, such a jump would not be difficult."

Machado adds: "Look at what he's done in the last two years, from the Second Division to the Primeira, the national team, then the World Cup.

"If he goes to England, I'd be confident that he could reach the level of the great players who play there."