Zaidu and Moura fail to convince Farioli, FC Porto left-back spot open | OneFootball

FC Porto still do not have their squad fully settled, and further movement in the transfer market is still expected. Among the areas causing the most concern within the club’s structure is the left side of defence, identified as one of the priorities for the summer.

While right-back offers greater assurances, the same cannot be said for the opposite flank. The position is far from being properly filled, and doubts over its consistency have been growing.

With FC Porto returning to the Champions League next season, it has become essential to strengthen the team’s defensive solidity. Even so, some positions still lack sufficient security, so the expectation is that the market will provide more reliable solutions for the future.

Francisco Moura and Zaidu have not convinced as alternatives capable of definitively taking over the left side. The 26-year-old Portuguese was used frequently by Francesco Farioli during last season, but he made several mistakes that ended up hurting the Dragons’ results, notably in the draw against Sporting in the Primeira Liga.

Criticism of the full-back has been growing and, if a new option for the position emerges, he could lose his place both in the starting eleven and on the bench. In 2025/26, Francisco Moura finished with three goals and two assists in 32 matches. The inconsistency in the way he approaches and deals with certain situations was, however, one of the clearest aspects of his spell at the club, which he joined from Famalicão in the 2024/25 season.

Zaidu is the other option currently available to the Italian coach, but the Nigeria international still does not inspire confidence. At FC Porto since 2020/21, he has never managed to establish himself consistently, and doubts remain over his ability to play a significant role in the team.

Speed is the main quality of the 29-year-old full-back, but his performances continue to be marked by several limitations and weaknesses.

Given this scenario, the Porto board considers it necessary to find a safe and reliable solution for the position. Ideally, the intention is not to adapt Martim Fernandes to the left side, nor to use Jakub Kiwior in that role.

A stronger past

In recent seasons, FC Porto have struggled to find quality on the left side of defence, especially when compared with other periods in their history. Nuno Valente performed the role with distinction between 2002 and 2005, but several other players also filled the position competently.

Pedro Emanuel, between 2002 and 2009, Marek Cech, from 2005 to 2008, Jorge Fucile, between 2006 and 2010 and again from 2012 to 2014, and Álvaro Pereira, from 2009 to 2012, were some of the names who left their mark on the left flank. Later, Cissokho had two spells at the club, in 2008/09 and 2015/16.

Between 2011 and 2015, Alex Sandro was the great reference point in the position, although he shared playing time with José Angel, who did not live up to expectations, in 2014/15. After the Brazilian’s departure, Miguel Layún took over at left-back between 2015 and 2017, before Alex Telles established himself as one of the last great standouts in the area, between 2016 and 2020.

More recently, Wendell represented FC Porto between 2021 and 2024, even sharing the position with Zaidu.

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