After his mea culpa, Pepê enjoying his best ever start

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Portal dos Dragões

·22 September 2025

After his mea culpa, Pepê enjoying his best ever start

The arrival of Francesco Farioli at Dragão brought about a profound change in various areas, especially in the mentality and sense of commitment of the players with FC Porto. One particular case stands out compared to the previous season, during which he experienced turbulent phases and an obvious lack of confidence, something he admitted publicly in recent interviews: it is Pepê, who seems to be living a second stage at the blue and white club, regaining the football he had already displayed on national fields and assuming a decisive role like never before.

The 28-year-old Brazilian international has undergone a true restart compared to what went wrong for him in 2024/2025 and stands out as a clearly transformed and revitalized player, both in innate qualities and in the numbers recorded in the four official matches he has already played for FC Porto this season. The winger has scored two goals – against Vitória de Guimarães, at home, and in Barcelos, against Gil Vicente – and provided a high-quality assist in Vila do Conde for Gabri Veiga's goal, which sealed Porto's victory on a usually difficult ground. It is the best individual start since he joined the dragons in 2021. The season's start also included an unusual injury: a trauma to the right eye that prevented him from facing Casa Pia and Sporting. He returned in good condition against Nacional and was once again decisive against Rio Ave.

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We are looking at a footballer who went through difficult moments in the previous season, marked by some mental fatigue that prevented him from contributing as expected in one of the most disastrous sporting seasons for FC Porto.

Renewal after the ‘mea culpa’

In the pre-season, Pepê did some introspection and acknowledged that he fell short of expectations in 2024/25. The possibility of leaving was mentioned several times, but the player took responsibility with a ‘mea culpa’ for the poor performance and for the episode in which he criticized then-coach Vítor Bruno on social media. That moment served as a turning point for his new life at Dragão. André Villas-Boas understood that Pepê remained committed to the blue and white cause, willing to change the image left in the previous season, and rewarded him with a renewal until 2028, with an option for another year, to be exercised automatically if a certain number of games are played, or unilaterally if FC Porto so decides. The release clause remained at 75 million euros.

In contrast to the previous season, Pepê has been adding decisive interventions on the field that earned him praise from coach Francesco Farioli, who recognizes the winger as an important piece on the field and in the Olival locker room. «He is doing a great job. My assessment of him was to analyze what happened before I arrived, on video, and I was left with the image of a player who had fantastic moments in the past. Last season he had problems, some ups and downs, but that's part of football. Since I arrived, I found a player with great desire, with a smile on his face, capable of bringing smiles to his teammates and the coach,» said the Italian.

From booed to applauded, Pepê has once again won the appreciation of Porto fans with captivating performances and prominence. After the storm, the Brazilian found the tranquility he was looking for at Dragão. Francesco Farioli acknowledges this return and the Porto fans celebrate his resurgence.

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