André Miranda becomes first B team youngster to get minutes under Farioli | OneFootball

Friday night was memorable for André Miranda, a young winger from FC Porto, who made his debut in the first team when he was brought on by Francesco Farioli in the final assault against Arouca – a match that ended with a 3-1 victory for the blues and whites.

At the 84th minute, the Italian coach risked everything to secure the three points, taking off Pepê and promoting the entry of a youth academy player, an unprecedented decision since he took charge.

It was then that a “nervous and breathless” André Miranda entered the Estádio do Dragão, realizing the dream of many young players trained for football.

“I always dreamed of this. It was a great entrance because we managed to turn the result in our favor, which was the most important. I was breathless, I entered nervous, but eager to help the team. There was a play where I won a rebound, and when I heard the stands celebrating, I felt even more determination and will,” André Miranda began by saying to FC Porto's official channels, highlighting his confidence in Farioli.

“I’ve been training with the A team for some time. Mister Farioli calls me for training, and I feel that I have evolved and that this helps me in the B team, makes me grow and have more maturity. I think this was reflected in the game. I am a very different person from what I was at the beginning of the season,” he added.

From Benfica to FC Porto

Already standing out in the B team, André Miranda was not an unknown face among the fans: considered one of the talents trained at Olival, he came this season with six goals and four assists in 24 matches, split between the B team and the under-19s.

The path of the 18-year-old winger, who can play on both flanks, includes a four-year stint at rival Benfica.

Born in Setúbal, he started at Pinhalnovense and then moved to the red club, which he represented between 2015 and 2019.

In the summer of 2019, he returned to Setúbal to join Vitória FC's under-13s, but the following year he joined Dragon Force and, in the summer of 2021, moved to FC Porto.

Almost five years later, he climbed the various levels until reaching the first team, becoming the first youth player to earn Farioli's trust – at least in terms of game minutes.

“André Miranda is a young player who just a few weeks ago was training with us and didn’t even dream of the opportunity to debut today, even more so when the score was tied and at a decisive moment of the game and the season. He had a great impact, added a lot of energy, a lot of fight, and a strong desire to win. I believe in him a lot and time shows us that everyone plays an important role within the group,” assured the FC Porto coach at a press conference, following the victory against Arouca.

Renewal on the horizon?

Farioli had already praised his potential previously, while André was establishing himself in the B team.

Although he now seems to be gaining weight in the options, the winger's contract ends in June 2027, and it is foreseeable that with the debut, a step forward towards renewal will be taken.

With six minutes in play, plus stoppage time, André Miranda joins the Olival DNA present in FC Porto's A team, which already includes Diogo Costa, Martim Fernandes, and Rodrigo Mora with regular use.

Who remains on the lookout?

Waiting for opportunities are Diogo Fernandes, Gabriel Brás, André Oliveira, and João Teixeira, while João Costa returned last summer to the club that trained him and occupies the position of third goalkeeper in the A team hierarchy, with regular use in the B team.

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