André Villas-Boas on the transfer market: “January proves crucial” | OneFootball

Thiago Silva, Pietuszewski, Fofana and Moffi ultimately proved decisive in FC Porto’s title triumph. And Villas-Boas, in an interview with Rádio Renascença published this Tuesday as part of the podcast ‘O Código Farioli’, confirmed exactly that view.

“January ended up being an important moment, not only because it was tied to the coach’s contract renewal, in terms of belief in the project; that was also a step both the coach and the club wanted to take in advance, as recognition of good work. As we are doing this interview [editor’s note: last April], FC Porto played a friendly against Vizela yesterday and the coach is in our offices meeting with the scouting team to prepare FC Porto’s future,” Villas-Boas began, staying on the subject.

“And that is what happened in January, a shared body of ideas regarding what it might mean to bring in players he already knew, and then scouting, more specifically in Pietuszewski’s case. As for Thiago, it was a market opportunity… We were uneasy because we only had three centre-backs available due to Nehuén’s injury. Pablo gave us matches at centre-back and offered guarantees, but the opportunity was unique, and then there was the emotional aspect related to his previous spell with the B team. This whole return of his was magical. Did the boss hesitate? No, it was an opportunity brought by the agent, I spoke to him and he was delighted,” the president also revealed, then explaining that Farioli is “heavily” involved with the club’s other departments.

Villas-Boas was also challenged to reveal what Francesco Farioli is like when he is away from the spotlight. Here too, there was no shortage of praise: “In personal dealings, very much his own man, very calm, objective, a man aware of his ideas. The meetings we have are more related to how FC Porto functions, its structures, the team, and not so much on a personal level. Of course we have met, he is a warm man, family-oriented, pleasant, with good Italian manners, a family relationship that ends up being carried more into day-to-day work.”

Then, with Farioli being the central theme of this interview, Villas-Boas spoke specifically about the process of renewing the coach’s contract.

“Above all, it was about the continuation of the coach’s good work, of what he had done, the realization that this is the person we want leading FC Porto, that he is recognised and courted at European level, that he is increasingly establishing himself as an emerging talent… And in that respect we wanted to anticipate scenarios. We recognise what each offers the other, FC Porto and the coach, and we wanted to bring forward the extension of that bond. And on the coach’s side there was almost immediate recognition that he feels good here, that in this house he is given the conditions to establish himself as a coach, and I think all these steps strengthen the union between two entities. And I think that is why we reached an agreement very quickly, because it goes beyond the employment bond and enters the emotional realm,” the president stressed, convinced that Farioli is already fully immersed in the FC Porto spirit.

“Yes, I think so, without a doubt. And that is recognised internally and externally. We have a coach in the FC Porto mould, who understands the fans’ demands, the need to deal with pressure, and the fact that this club has a very specific context and the way its principles must be defended,” he said, before explaining how he dealt with the urban myth that after a coach renews his contract, results tend to suffer.

“I think there have already been many coaches who renewed in the middle of the season and went on to have great success. I hope he reaches absolute success at FC Porto,” he said, also speaking about the game of musical chairs that usually follows a World Cup, like the one that will happen next summer.

“Respecting everyone’s position and knowing that coaches are courted by other clubs, I think that in the major markets there is great unpredictability associated with a coach’s career. We have seen very specific phenomena especially in the Premier League; this means the coaching market is very volatile and that success quickly turns into failure. And it is from that moment that coaches place greater value on where they are, what clubs offer, which clubs guarantee stability and a perfect exchange of synergies. From the few conversations we have shared… If one day this interview, after April, becomes a final chapter of FC Porto as 2025/26 champions, he will surely say that here he found stability, structure, ideas and a club that works to strengthen the coach and his method,” Villas-Boas also said, confident that Farioli will reach great heights in European football.

“With the age he is and with the success I hope he achieves at FC Porto over the coming many years, we hope so,” concluded the FC Porto president.

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