Martim Fernandes returns and could feature in Salzburg

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Portal dos Dragões

·23 September 2025

Martim Fernandes returns and could feature in Salzburg

After suffering an injury on August 12, during the match against Vitória de Guimarães, pertaining to the first round of the championship, Martim Fernandes is nearing his return to competition for FC Porto. The right-back suffered an injury to the external collateral ligament of his left knee, which initially caused concern within the blue and white ranks, but examinations ruled out the need for surgical intervention.

The 19-year-old player, trained at Olival, underwent a recovery period focused on a consolidation treatment directed by Dr. Nélson Puga. Everything went as planned, with Martim Fernandes training in a conditioned regime for a few days and showing a recovery close to full. Therefore, it is likely that in the next few hours he will no longer appear on the medical report and, barring setbacks, will be included in the call-up list for the blue and whites' debut in the 2025/2026 edition of the Europa League, against Salzburg.

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Pablo Rosario lined up as a right-back against Nacional and Rio Ave, due to the unavailability of Alberto Costa, who remains under the care of the medical department. If Martim Fernandes is fully fit by the Europa League match, his placement in the starting eleven is not ruled out, after missing the matches against Gil Vicente, Casa Pia, Sporting, Nacional, and Rio Ave. Thus, a window of opportunity opens for the full-back, who this season renewed his contract with the dragons until 2030, with a termination clause of 80 million euros.

On the other hand, Alberto Costa continues in conditioned work, which includes specific sessions in the gym and also on the field, and is considered an option for the classic match against Benfica, scheduled for the 5th, at the Estádio do Dragão. The summer reinforcement injured himself on the eve of the match against Nacional, suffering a muscle tear that prevented him from contributing in the most recent matches. The 21-year-old full-back cost Porto's SAD 15 million euros - plus 1 million in bonuses subject to targets - and Juventus kept 10% of the capital gains in a possible future sale. Alberto is striving to return as soon as possible and everything indicates that the classic may mark his return, although he is also striving to anticipate it.

One certainty: Francesco Farioli, despite several setbacks with injuries at this early stage of the season, has been able to improvise and the options have been successful, notably the use of Pablo Rosario on the right side of the defense - who even scored against Rio Ave.

Francisco Moura, who was injured in the pre-season stage in Austria, returned to the options of Francesco Farioli in time to be a starter in the classic match at Alvalade, in a memorable match for the dragons, who beat the two-time champion and took the lead in the championship.

However, Francisco Moura's performances have been below expectations, especially in the defensive chapter, with difficulties in recovering speed. Zaidu, who against Rio Ave played the entire second half as a right-back, has been living up to the tasks assigned and is starting to claim minutes in the eleven. Farioli admitted to having tested him in position 8 in training, but also does not rule out the presence of the number 12 in the trip to Salzburg, possibly acting as a left-back - his original position. The fight for minutes on the left wing is heating up.

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