 Born in Praia, Cape Verde, Furtado started his football career in Portugal with lowly Casa Pia A.C. in the Lisbon area, where he also made his senior debuts.He moved to FC Porto in 2003, playing one full season with its reserves then moving on loan to another modest club, G.D. Tourizense.In June 2005, Furtado, still on loan from Porto, signed with Bulgarian team FC Vihren Sandanski, where he scored regularly in the First Professional Football League.