FC Porto join the race for an Under-20 World Cup breakout | 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 latest Under-20 World Cup, won by Morocco.

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

The Italian club also rates Maamma’s qualities highly 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 played 25 Championship matches, scoring four goals and providing one assist.

The young winger’s stock rose mainly בעקבות his standout performances at the Under-20 World Cup, a tournament in which he was decisive in helping Morocco win the title and received the award for best player.

His displays for the youth national team also earned him a place in the plans of Morocco’s senior 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 sides.

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

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 best-placed clubs to make a move if they decide to act on their interest.

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