Alan Varela revived at FC Porto after spell on the bench | OneFootball

Alan Varela once again showed his best performance in Francesco Farioli's team after a January in which he started most matches on the bench. This was a new experience in the career of the 24-year-old Argentine, who was accustomed to being a starter at FC Porto, and it seemingly did him well. The competition from Pablo Rosario acted as a wake-up call that required an immediate response from the South American midfielder.

To the naked eye, he appears to be a more committed athlete with greater offensive dynamics, as evidenced by his growing influence in the attacking midfield and even in the final third. In the last three league matches, Varela significantly increased the number of passes to areas near the opponent's box and records one shot per game, attributes previously more associated with Rosario.

On the defensive side, the Argentine has further raised his levels, showing greater aggressiveness in plays, especially in ball recoveries and duels won. Alan Varela emerged revitalized after his time on the bench and, for now, has relieved the pressure from Pablo Rosario, who had been standing out in Francesco Farioli's team.

However, the Argentine must be careful if he intends to consolidate his place in the starting eleven, as he risks suspension in the league. If he receives a yellow card in the match against Rio Ave, he will automatically be suspended for the following match against Arouca, potentially losing his spot again to the Dominican international.

The competition between the two benefits the team, which currently has two players with credibility for the more defensive midfield position, although Rosario gains an advantage due to his versatility, allowing him to occupy other areas on the field. In fact, the two have already been lined up together in the starting eleven.

World Cup Dream

Alan Varela keeps alive the hope of being called up for the 2026 World Cup. Although not a regular presence in the group led by Lionel Scaloni, the FC Porto midfielder was included in the Argentine coach's squad for the last qualifying round for the World Cup, although he was not used. Nevertheless, the fact that he is on Lionel Scaloni's radar gives him some leeway to fulfill that dream.

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