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

The new era of FC Porto began with a profound overhaul of the squad. André Villas-Boas had promised to carry out the biggest transfer market in the club’s history, and that promise was fulfilled, with evident results.

The board worked diligently over the past summer and Francesco Farioli managed to assemble a competitive team. Before the goalless draw in the Clássico against Benfica, FC Porto had won all official matches played, 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 local fans, the midfielder quickly established himself in the Dragons’ starting eleven, tallying one goal and three assists in ten games. His commitment and ability to never give up on a play have won over the fans, who already call him the Danish ‘octopus’.

Another standout reinforcement is Alberto Costa. After making his mark at Vitória SC and having stints at Juventus, he returned to Portugal with FC Porto. The right-back stands out for his speed and offensive contribution, already recording five assists in seven games.

Jan Bednarek and Jakub Kiwior have brought the consistency that was missing in the defensive line last season. Bednarek has become the defensive reference, with great anticipation and positioning, while Kiwior has added quality in passing and ball progression. With the Polish central duo formed, the blue and whites have yet to concede a goal.

Further back, Pablo Rosario has been FC Porto’s Swiss army knife. Recruited from Nice, he has been used as a right-back, showing solidity and even managing to score, demonstrating his versatility. In goal, João Costa has yet to make his debut since returning to the Dragão. Dominik Prpić has five appearances, but has been overlooked in favor of 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 has regained the form he showed at Celta, being 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 to coach Francesco Farioli, proving to be a headache for opposing defenses and already tallying two goals and two assists.

Meanwhile, the veteran Dutch striker, who surprised in the presentation match, is currently injured, although he has already scored for the club, while the Frenchman, signed after the transfer 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 capability both at 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.