Eustáquio’s stock rises, but the plan is clear | OneFootball

Stephen Eustáquio is going through happy days in Canada’s shirt. After making it through the World Cup group stage, the Canucks got the knockout phase off to the best possible start and knocked out South Africa thanks to a fine goal by the midfielder, scored after the 90th minute. The emotions the 29-year-old let out after that historic strike were revealing: the Portuguese-Canadian is living one of the most remarkable chapters of his career in the biggest tournament in the beautiful game, and the belief that the dream can still go on remains very much alive. At the end of the competition, his immediate future is already defined as well.

The loan spell at Los Angeles FC, which began in February, ends today and the MLS club will not trigger the purchase option included in the loan agreement. So, when Canada’s World Cup run comes to an end, Eustáquio will have a few days off before reporting back for FC Porto’s pre-season work.

That is the plan laid out for Stephen, whose name is gaining more and more weight on the international stage thanks to Canada’s World Cup campaign. On top of that, the months spent at LAFC also helped spark interest in MLS — San Jose Earthquakes are also said to have made enquiries — and beyond. Eustáquio has an appealing profile for the market: he is about to turn 30, is at a stage of full competitive maturity, and the experience he has built up at the highest level, namely over four years wearing the dragon on his chest, counts for a great deal.

Even so, the midfielder’s intention is unequivocal. Eustáquio will return to Olival with a clear head and ready to fight for a place in the squad coached by Francesco Farioli. The move to Los Angeles in the winter transfer window was linked to his desire to play more regularly in the build-up to a special World Cup for Canada, one of the tournament’s three hosts. On the other hand, the player is a highly respected figure in the FC Porto dressing room and by the Italian coach himself, a great admirer of Stephen’s human side, the leadership he brings, and the technical and tactical qualities he shows.

With Seko Fofana already out of the equation — he has returned to Rennes — FC Porto’s board is in the market looking for another midfield option, but that does not make Stephen lower his guard. A BOLA knows that, just as within the squad and coaching staff, the player’s profile is also viewed favourably by the board led by André Villas-Boas, which does not intend to speed up any transfer process involving the Canada international.

At the same time, the contract tying Stephen Eustáquio to FC Porto runs until June next year, so any offers that may come in during the summer will be carefully analysed by the Porto hierarchy, but without haste or rash decisions. As long as he remains at FC Porto, the midfielder will continue to be seen as an important asset and fully available to Farioli. And if he does end up staying in the squad, the most likely outcome is that he renews his contract, a scenario that is said to have already been safeguarded between the parties.

Hungry for a spot too

In addition to the established members of the first-team squad, Francesco Farioli will use the first phase of pre-season, which gets under way tomorrow at the Jorge Costa training centre, to observe several young players developed at Olival, with special attention on midfield. Tiago Silva, Bernardo Lima, João Teixeira and Mateus Mide are the midfielders who form part of the club’s rich home-grown crop and will begin work for the new season alongside the more experienced players, in addition to Norwegian signing Eirik Granaas, who is only 16. The Porto coach will be able to take notes and figure out which members of this group deserve special attention — and, who knows, opportunities — over the coming months.

Stephen Eustáquio will arrive later, but he could serve as a reference point for this young generation, given the years he has already spent wearing the dragon on his chest. The battle for a place in midfield promises to heat up with so much fresh blood in the mix, not forgetting the likely signing that will arrive further down the line…

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