From ugly duckling to key player: Zaidu shines again for FC Porto | OneFootball

The 19th minute was underway when Zaidu Sanusi advanced down the right flank of the attack to take a corner kick. Shortly after Gabri Veiga’s goal, the Estádio do Dragão witnessed an explosion of excitement with Zaidu, whose applause was only surpassed by that dedicated to the Spaniard. He neither scored nor provided an assist: he simply took the corner.

This episode perfectly reflects the phase the Nigerian is going through in his sixth consecutive season at FC Porto. Not always cherished by the fans, the left-back has reasserted himself in Porto’s starting eleven, and his performances explain this consolidation.

“He waited for his opportunity and it came”

Strong performances against Nacional, Rio Ave, FC Arouca, Stuttgart, and Moreirense have made Zaidu the main candidate to occupy FC Porto’s left-back position until the end of the 2025/2026 season. This Sunday, he left the Dragão to loud applause, after helping the team secure a comfortable 3-0 victory.

This time, Farioli did not praise him, as he had already done so in the pre-match press conference. “I’m happy with Zaidu. There was a good possibility for him to move to the Premier League. I spoke with him, asked what he wanted to do, if he was happy here, because in the first part of the season he had few minutes. But he always maintained a great training attitude and replied that he was very happy here, having a role in the group, with the desire to compete in all three competitions.”

“He waited for his opportunity and it came shortly after. He gave me the confidence to put him on the pitch and he’s progressing well. He’s one of the examples in this team, has an incredible attitude, and is loved by the fans. At the Dragão, when he touches the ball, you can feel a different atmosphere,” added the coach.

But, after all, what sets Zaidu apart from Francisco Moura? As has been the case in recent years, Zaidu is a full-back who uses his great speed to create imbalances. Although he does not stand out for refined technique, he manages to use his body effectively to get past opponents in various situations—something the Portuguese player finds more difficult.

Moreover, it’s worth highlighting the clear improvements in his ball handling—even though it’s still far from ideal—as was evident in the assist for Rodrigo Mora against Stuttgart, with an exemplary cross that resulted in the 0-2.

The Portuguese full-back, on the other hand, is going through a crisis of confidence, making serious mistakes in decisive matches. This has opened up space for Zaidu to stand out and secure his place in FC Porto’s starting eleven, who remain in the fight in all three competitions.

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