José Boto on Froholdt: “He impresses me, he's off to the English league” | OneFootball

José Boto appeared on the program 'Futebol Total' on Canal 11, where he analyzed Portuguese football, highlighting FC Porto as the undefeated leader of the Primeira Liga, with a five-point lead over the two-time champion Sporting and eight over Benfica.

The current director of football at Flamengo, Brazilian champion and Libertadores winner, began by praising the signings of the blue and white SAD, chaired by André Villas-Boas, made last summer, and revealed some players he was already familiar with.

“I already knew some players, some had even been on my radar. The one who scored two goals for FC Porto against Alverca [Borja Sainz]. I already knew him well, had tried to bring him to Flamengo. It doesn't surprise me because I already knew him,” admitted the director, also mentioning Victor Froholdt, recently elected Talent and Footballer of the Year 2025 in Denmark.

“He impresses me, he's a player for greater heights, I think he won't stay here at FC Porto for long, honestly. I think he'll go to the English league, for sure, to one of the big clubs, because he has those characteristics. He was a player I didn't know that well and he impressed me.”

“Honestly, I really liked FC Porto's market. Knowing Farioli's ideas, the players they brought in were perfectly adaptable to the coach's idea. Benfica's also seemed good to me, some players I know well. I don't know if they adapt to the ideas, because it wasn't Mourinho who did it, it was for Bruno Lage. Although he has the ability to adapt players to his ideas. Sporting maintaining some of the structure was important, but losing a player [Gyokeres] who scores all those goals will certainly have an impact. But in terms of the market, seen from the outside, the strongest seemed to be FC Porto's,” he noted.

Regarding Flamengo, Boto criticized the demanding schedule, which reached 78 games throughout the season, and also made strong comments about the wear and tear of that competitive density.

“It's a competitive density that no one has any idea about, games every three days, without time to rest or train. It's a big psychological strain for us and the players. I greatly admire Abel Ferreira [Palmeiras coach], who has endured it for five years. Leonardo [former Cruzeiro coach] immediately said he couldn't handle it. It's enormous pressure, from the fans, the press, you have to be very strong psychologically. In game 78 [Intercontinental Cup final] I told Filipe Luís that we were going on vacation and on the 10th we had to return because the Brasileirão starts on January 28. You don't even have time to enjoy the victories we had. That doesn't exist in Europe, it's much smoother than there.”

Without guaranteeing his continuity in the position, he also spoke about Filipe Luís and the ongoing negotiations for the coach's renewal.

“It was the best decision I had to make. He had no experience, but after some conversations, I saw he had something special. He is someone very prepared. I find similarities with Roberto De Zerbi (current Marseille coach), someone who lives it 24 hours, very studious. I think the negotiations will reach a good outcome, he's at a club that allows him to compete for titles and, perhaps, he won't have that in Europe. In the Brazilian reality, he is clearly the most well-prepared coach to have a high-level career in Europe,” he assured.

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