FC Porto's Champions League squad could be limited by UEFA rules | OneFootball

Last season, Francesco Farioli was not forced to make choices, since FC Porto managed to register all the players, including the ten new signings. Now, however, the list of players the Dragons must submit to UEFA by 11:59 p.m. on September 2 for the regular phase of the Champions League may be limited by the competition’s rules. At this point, there would be no issue, but the market still promises movement until the end of the month. Everything will depend on the nationality of the new signings and on possible departures of Portuguese players such as Moura and Eustáquio. Vasco Sousa could take on the role of “joker.” We’ll explain.

The rules state that no club may register more than 25 players on List A. Of those spots, at least eight must be filled exclusively by “locally trained players,” with no more than four being “association-trained players.” A locally trained player is considered one who has been developed by the club and by the association (country). It is at this point that the numbers will have to be worked out, assuming Mora leaves. Diogo Costa, André Silva, João Costa and Martim Fernandes were developed at Olival, although the right-back also meets the conditions to be registered on List B. Cláudio Ramos, Alberto Costa, Moura, João Afonso and Eustáquio are the players trained in Portugal, but there are only four spots in this category. With the departure of the Canadian international, who has been authorized to find a club, that issue is resolved. If, in addition to him, Eustáquio and Moura also leave, FC Porto will, however, have to trim the final list. “If a club has fewer than eight locally trained players on its List A, the maximum number of players that can be registered on this list is reduced accordingly,” UEFA’s regulations state.

It is in this context that Vasco Sousa could be used as a “joker.” The young midfielder can be considered club-trained and, in that way, allow the quota of eight players to be met even if only Cláudio Ramos, Alberto Costa and João Afonso are trained in Portugal. If a Portuguese signing is brought in, Vasco Sousa will no longer need to be included. If, on the other hand, the new player is foreign, his presence could prevent the final list from being reduced to 24 players.

That would leave 17 “open” spots, in addition to the eight reserved for locally trained players, for a total of 16 players from the current squad: Kiwior, Nehuén Pérez, Prpic, Bednarek, Zaidu, Pablo Rosario, Alan Varela, Froholdt, Gabri Veiga, Inbeom, William Gomes, Pepê, Samu, Oskar, Borja Sainz and Deniz Gil.

The scenario could become more complicated with the arrival of new signings. If FC Porto sign a striker, a left-back and a midfielder, and none of them is Portuguese — in that case, one could take Vasco Sousa’s place — Farioli may have to leave as many as two players out of the Champions League squad list.

Registration deadline is a factor

For the Portuguese teams involved in European competitions, there is one particularly relevant detail: the deadline for submitting the lists to UEFA ends at 11:59 p.m. on September 2. That date comes two days before the transfer window closes in Portugal, which stays open longer than in the major leagues. Therefore, any signing made during that interval can no longer be registered by FC Porto for the Champions League. The SAD will therefore have to complete its signings by that point, otherwise the latest “new faces” in Farioli’s squad will only be able to play in domestic competitions. At least until the knockout phase of the European competitions begins…

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