“Big clubs were watching Eirik Granaas, FC Porto were very professional” | OneFootball

To a certain extent, FC Porto’s new signing, Eirik Granaas, was still a well-kept secret. In a country with a strong export tradition like Norway, the midfielder’s debut at the highest level in the domestic league sparked the interest of representatives from “very big clubs” in Europe, Fredrikstad sporting director Anders Jensen confirmed to the newspaper “A BOLA”. FC Porto managed to get there first, thanks to arguments stronger than financial ones.

With this impact, the presence of foreign scouts became inevitable: “When such a young player starts playing, of course many clubs come to watch. Many clubs were interested. Big clubs, yes, very big,” he admits. FC Porto ultimately stood out. “FC Porto was very clear about what they wanted. They saw the talent and knew they wanted him. They made up their minds about him. They were very professional in the talks. They showed they are a very big club in the way they respect, discuss and do things, also with the family.”

Why FC Porto? For Jensen, the explanation lies in the Portuguese context and the recent track record of players coming from Scandinavia. He recalls names such as Froholdt, Schjelderup, Conrad Harder, Hjulmand or Aursnes, all of whom adapted well in Portugal. “There are several players in Portugal who have done very well,” he says. In the Dragons’ case, their ability to develop players also carries weight: “FC Porto showed how they can develop very good players into top players and help them take the next steps, which is obviously interesting for us.” Fredrikstad wanted to make sure the midfielder would go to “a place where he would be very well looked after” and came away convinced of that: “We felt it was a good step for him and we are proud of that for Eirik, for his family and for the club.”

From the Norwegian point of view, the deal is significant. Granaas was only at Fredrikstad for a year and a half, but the transfer will stand as a milestone. Jensen does not reveal figures, but he does not hide his satisfaction. “It is always difficult to put a specific price on a special talent like Eirik when he is 16 years old. It is not easy. But when Eirik does what we believe he will do at FC Porto and they do a good job with him, it will be good for all parties.” For the club, it is “a very positive deal” and “another part of the story we are proud of.”

From the player’s side, the arrival of a name like FC Porto was received naturally. “Eirik is very confident. He is not afraid to step into new environments or to show his qualities,” says Jensen. “He has great respect for the club, but he also knows he can go there, show his qualities and develop.” The family played a decisive role, and the conversations with Porto’s officials were “the key” to making everyone feel comfortable.

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