Mauro Eustáquio has departed Cavalry FC.

The 27-year-old defensive midfielder has joined Portuguese third-tier side Caldas SC after appearing ten times for the Cavs in the Canadian Premier League’s inaugural season. Eustáquio status with the club was previously uncertain.

Before his time in Calgary, the physically-imposing midfielder made over 60 appearances at NASL and USL level with Ottawa Fury and FC Edmonton. He also played for Canada at youth level.

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Eustáquio’s departure now leaves four 2019 Cavs players with unconfirmed futures going into a potential 2020 CPL season: Chris Serban, Dean Northover, Carlos Patiño, and Oluwatofarati Fakunle.

Eustáquio was born in Portugal and raised in Leamington, Ont. His younger brother, Stephen, is a full Canadian international.

“We are delighted for Mauro to have the opportunity to get back on the pitch again following his return from injury. We spoke in depth through the off-season and weighed up options during the COVID 19 lockdown on how we could get him here from Portugal and into training and exhibition games to fully assess his return,” read a Cavalry FC statement.

“However, with some many unknowns it was hard to commit to anything, so we mutually agreed that the best thing for Mauro was to follow the European schedule as teams return to action and not have to under-go any travel or quarantine and get some game action in. Everyone here at Cavalry FC wish Mauro nothing but the best for this season, he’s a quality player and a terrific human being that left a lasting impact on our club.”