FC Porto join race for one of the Under-20 World Cup's breakout stars | OneFootball

FC Porto are closely monitoring Othmane Maamma, a 20-year-old Moroccan winger who plays for Watford and was named the best player at the most recent Under-20 World Cup, won by Morocco.

According to Foot Mercato, the former Montpellier player is being watched by the Dragons, who face competition from Bologna in the race to sign him.

The Italian club also views Maamma’s qualities very positively and could submit an offer if Jonathan Rowe leaves the team. That scenario keeps the battle for the Moroccan international open in this final stage of the transfer window.

Maamma moved to Watford in the summer of 2025 and is under contract with the English club until June 2029. Last season, he featured in 25 Championship matches, scoring four goals and providing one assist.

The young winger’s value rose mainly as a result of his standout performances at the Under-20 World Cup, a competition in which he was decisive in Morocco’s title win and received the award for best player.

His performances for the youth national team also earned him a place in the plans of the senior Moroccan side, as he was included in an extended squad before the 2026 World Cup.

The player had already attracted the attention of other European clubs, including Crystal Palace, Everton and Benfica. Now, FC Porto have joined the list of interested parties.

According to L’Équipe, Watford could demand a fee of around €10 million to agree to negotiate the winger’s sale.

For now, the Dragons are only monitoring the situation, with no indication of any formal offer. Bologna are also said to be one of the clubs best placed to make a move, should they decide to act on their interest.

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