Pepê on the target list of an Italian giant | OneFootball

Pepê wrapped up his fifth season at FC Porto by winning the national title, the second in the Brazilian winger’s career. In his very first season at the Dragão (2021/22), he had already played his part in the blue-and-whites’ march towards their 30th league championship. At 29, he is one of the most experienced members of the squad and one of those who has been at the club the longest, but, as is the case with other younger assets, he is also starting to attract interest from abroad.

Roma are one of the clubs keeping tabs on the Brazil international. The news began circulating this Thursday on websites linked to the Italian capital club, and A BOLA confirmed that Pepê is indeed on the giallorossi’s list of targets, in an interest that actually goes back some time.

According to information gathered by our newspaper, the Italian club sounded out the player’s representatives last summer and even considered submitting a formal offer to Porto’s SAD. That intention went no further, but the versatile forward’s name has never stopped being highly rated in the Romans’ offices, who sent scouts to the Dragão fairly regularly throughout the season.

A BOLA understands that Roma have not made any recent approach to FC Porto’s hierarchy for Pepê, and that is a scenario unlikely to change in the coming days or weeks. At this moment, the club does not have much financial room to manoeuvre and will try as early as this weekend, away to Hellas Verona in the 38th and final round of Serie A, to secure qualification for the UEFA Champions League.

However, if they do clinch a place in Europe’s top competition — the most likely scenario — and depending on possible departures during the summer, the situation could change, especially as the versatility of the Dragons’ No. 11 appeals to Gian Piero Gasperini: in the experienced coach’s preferred 3x4x3, there could be room for the Brazilian in several positions.

In any case, Pepê is not the only name in the Portuguese market attracting Roma’s attention, as they have also watched Noah Saviolo, of Vitória de Guimarães and a Benfica target. As for the FC Porto player, he is also highly regarded in other countries, including England.

His contract with the Dragons runs until June 2028, with an option for a further year, and includes a €75 million release clause. Even so, the SAD led by André Villas-Boas may be open to discussing offers naturally below that amount, although Pepê is still considered an important piece for the future. In the season just concluded, the winger played 48 matches in the blue-and-white shirt, 41 of them as a starter, scored four goals and provided six assists.

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