Alberto Costa now undroppable: four games, four assists | OneFootball

Doubts about Alberto Costa's role at FC Porto seem to have dissipated with the start of the current season, thanks to very solid performances and numbers that justify his inclusion in the eleven of Francesco Farioli.

Returning to Portugal from Juventus for a fixed 15 million euros - a deal that could reach an additional million depending on objectives - the 21-year-old right-back has lived up to expectations. In the four matches played in 2025/26, he recorded four assists, the best start of his career to date, and promises to continue to stand out.

The match at Alvalade was a demonstration of his worth, under the watchful eye of Rui Borges, who coached him at Vitória SC. Against the two-time champion Sporting, the number 20 of the dragons showed offensive and defensive qualities: in the first half he was a constant concern for Pedro Gonçalves, newly confident after his hattrick against Nacional, and a decisive cut that stopped a shot from the number 8 of the lions, in a brilliant recovery after a poorly measured pass from Francisco Moura, is memorable.

With great verticality and physical capacity, Alberto Costa has also been a provider of crosses for the forwards, as demonstrated by Luuk de Jong's inaugural goal for FC Porto, which came from a low cross from the full-back.

The influence of right-backs on the Portista attack is common in recent seasons. In the last ten years, players such as Danilo, Ricardo Pereira or Miguel Layún have passed through there - the latter, a Mexican international, surprised in 2015/16 with 19 (!) assists and six goals while on loan from English Watford. More recently, João Mário took over the position and achieved his personal best of eight assists in 2022/23; the 25-year-old Portuguese international was then involved in the transfer that brought Alberto Costa, who signed with the club until 2030.

FC Porto maintains a competitive squad and the right side of the defense is no exception. Martim Fernandes, 19 years old, presents himself as a serious competitor to Alberto Costa as soon as he recovers from the problem in his left knee suffered in the inaugural round of the I Liga against Vitória SC. Last season, the youngster from the Portuguese youth teams recorded six assists in his first full season in the main squad.

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