Eustáquio’s stock rises, but the plan is clear | OneFootball

Stephen Eustáquio is going through happy days in Canada’s shirt. After getting past the World Cup group stage, the Canucks started the knockout phase in the best possible way and left South Africa behind thanks to a fine goal from the midfielder, scored after the 90th minute. The emotions the 29-year-old let out after that historic strike were telling: the Portuguese-Canadian is living one of the most remarkable chapters of his career at the biggest competition in the beautiful game, and the belief that the dream can still go on remains very much alive. At the end of the tournament, his immediate future is also already defined.

The loan spell at Los Angeles FC, which began in February, ends today and the MLS club will not trigger the purchase option included in the loan agreement. Thus, when Canada’s World Cup run comes to an end, Eustáquio will have a few days off before reporting again for FC Porto’s pre-season work.

That is the plan laid out for Stephen, whose name is gaining more and more weight on the international stage thanks to Canada’s World Cup campaign. In addition, the months spent at LAFC also helped spark interest in MLS — San Jose Earthquakes are also said to have made inquiries — and beyond. Eustáquio has an appealing profile for the market: he is about to turn 30, is at a stage of full competitive maturity, and the experience he has built up at the highest level, namely in four years wearing the dragon on his chest, counts for a great deal.

Even so, the midfielder’s intention is unequivocal. Eustáquio will return to Olival with a clear head and ready to fight for a place in the squad coached by Francesco Farioli. The move to Los Angeles in the winter transfer window was linked to the desire to play more regularly in the lead-up to a special World Cup for Canada, one of the tournament’s three hosts. On the other hand, the player is a highly respected figure in the FC Porto dressing room and by the Italian coach himself, a great admirer of Stephen’s human side, the leadership he brings, and the technical and tactical qualities he shows.

With Seko Fofana already out of the equation — he has returned to Rennes — FC Porto’s board is in the market looking for another solution for midfield, but that does not make Stephen lower his arms. A BOLA knows that, just as within the squad and coaching staff, the player’s profile is also viewed favorably by the board led by André Villas-Boas, which does not intend to speed up any market process involving the Canada international.

At the same time, Stephen Eustáquio’s contract with FC Porto runs until June next year, so any offers that may arise in the summer will be carefully analyzed by the Porto structure, but without haste or rash decisions. As long as he is at FC Porto, the midfielder will continue to be seen as a relevant asset and fully available to Farioli. And if he ends up staying in the squad, the most likely outcome is that he will renew his contract, a scenario that has reportedly already been safeguarded between the parties.

Fire in the belly also in the hunt for a spot

In addition to the regular members of the first-team squad, Francesco Farioli will use the first phase of pre-season, which starts tomorrow at the Jorge Costa CTFD, to observe several youngsters developed at Olival, with special attention on midfield. Tiago Silva, Bernardo Lima, João Teixeira and Mateus Mide are the midfielders who are part of the club’s golden crop and will begin work for the new season alongside the more experienced players, along with Norwegian signing Eirik Granaas, who is only 16. The Porto coach will be able to take notes and see which players in this group deserve special attention — and, who knows, opportunities — over the coming months.

Stephen Eustáquio will arrive later, but he may end up serving as a reference point for this young generation, thanks to the years he has already spent wearing the dragon on his chest. The battle for a place in midfield promises to heat up with so much new blood in the mix, not forgetting the likely signing that will come further down the line…

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.