The Danish octopus and the Polish wall: FC Porto’s new pillars | OneFootball

FC Porto’s new season began with a deep overhaul of the squad. André Villas-Boas had promised to carry out the biggest transfer window in the club’s history, and that promise was kept, with evident results.

The board worked diligently over the summer and Francesco Farioli managed to assemble a competitive team. Before the goalless draw in the Clássico against Benfica, FC Porto had won all their official matches, reaching the top of the league and first place in their group in the single-league phase of the Europa League.

Among the signings, Victor Froholdt has stood out. Unknown to most domestic fans, the midfielder quickly established himself in the Dragons’ starting eleven and has one goal and three assists in ten games. His commitment and refusal to give up on any play have won over the fans, who already call him the Danish “octopus.”

Another standout reinforcement is Alberto Costa. After impressing at Vitória SC and spells at Juventus, he returned to Portugal with FC Porto. The right-back is distinguished by his speed and offensive contribution, already tallying five assists in seven games.

Jan Bednarek and Jakub Kiwior have brought the consistency that was missing at the heart of the defense last season. Bednarek has established himself as the leader of the backline, with great anticipation and positioning, while Kiwior has added passing quality and ball progression. With the Polish center-back duo in place, the blue and whites have yet to concede a goal.

Deeper on the pitch, Pablo Rosario has been FC Porto’s Swiss army knife. Signed from Nice, he has been used as a right-back, showing solidity and even getting on the scoresheet, demonstrating his versatility. In goal, João Costa has yet to make his debut in this return to the Dragão. Dominik Prpić has five appearances but has been second choice behind Kiwior and Bednarek.

In midfield, besides Froholdt, Gabri Veiga has taken on a significant role. After a stint in Saudi Arabia, the Spaniard returned to European football and recaptured the form he showed at Celta, serving as the team’s main creative force, with one goal and three assists in nine games.

Up front, Borja Sainz, Luuk de Jong, and Yann Karamoh have been the attacking options. The Spanish winger, signed from Norwich, has brought new solutions for coach Francesco Farioli, proving a headache for opposing defenses and already recording two goals and two assists.

Meanwhile, the veteran Dutch striker, who impressed in the presentation match, is currently injured, although he has already scored for the club, while the Frenchman, signed after the window closed as a free agent, awaits his debut for the new team.

Three months after the official start of the season, this “new” FC Porto has shown its mettle home and away, positioning itself as a serious contender for the national title and with ambitions in Europe.

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