What FC Porto are offering their captain, and what's on Diogo Costa's mind | OneFootball

86th minute of the classic at Alvalade between Sporting and FC Porto: at the edge of the penalty area, Luis Suárez receives the ball, gets past Pablo Rosario, and shoots powerfully – he only didn’t score because Diogo Costa was in the right place.

The goalkeeper and captain once again prevented the equalizer, securing victory for the Porto side on their rival’s turf and reaffirming his importance in Francesco Farioli’s FC Porto. After the transfer window closed, number 99 remains at the club despite external interest. In the final period of the market, Aston Villa targeted the Portuguese international, joining the persistent Galatasaray, but the board led by André Villas-Boas stood firm: Diogo must be preserved and retained at FC Porto for as long as possible.

The Portal is already aware of efforts in the offices at Estádio do Dragão to address the future of the goalkeeper, who came up through Olival. According to our findings, preparations are underway for the contract renewal of Diogo Costa, considered one of the club’s main symbols and set for improved contract terms. The newspaper has also learned that the management intends to offer the 25-year-old the most significant contract in the squad, extending his stay beyond 2027, when his current deal expires.

On Diogo’s side, there is openness to this possibility, especially since the board’s proposal has already been communicated to the player. Naturally, there are details to be ironed out, but the goalkeeper views his continued stay positively, which remains assured as long as the €75 million release clause is in effect, acting as a brake on more exotic offers – with Turkey and Saudi Arabia standing out.

FC Porto’s confidence in Diogo Costa is based on the commitment number 99 has shown at all times. Aware that, in recent years, several top clubs have followed his progress, the goalkeeper has never hesitated, partly due to the emotional connection he has had with the blue and white badge since a young age. “If I never leave FC Porto, which is the club I love and where I learned to play football, I’ll be happy,” Diogo said in October last year in an interview with the BBC, while noting, however, that “everyone knows how a footballer’s life is.”

True to this attitude, the goalkeeper, who is currently on duty with the National Team, is fully aligned with FC Porto’s objectives for the season. The priority is to win the league, which has eluded the Invicta club since 2021/22. In this regard, Diogo Costa acknowledges that André Villas-Boas, the football structure, and Farioli have built a squad capable of competing on several fronts, as evidenced by the flawless start to the season (four consecutive wins). That’s why Diogo remains committed to the Dragão and the club’s future.

Galatasaray reached 30 million euros:

Galatasaray completed the signing of Ugurcan Çakir for their goal, paying 33 million euros to Trabzonspor. Before that deal, the Turks had explored several alternatives, including Diogo Costa. As reported by A BOLA, FC Porto’s board rejected a formal offer of 20 million euros from the Turkish champions, who recently came back with a new bid. According to the Portal, the new offer was 30 million, but it was still far below the Dragons’ valuation and was again rejected by André Villas-Boas.

Aston Villa’s interest received significant media attention, but the English club, besides not transferring Emiliano Martínez, was never able to gather the financial means to move for Diogo Costa. The Villans are subject to the PSR, the equivalent of the Premier League’s Financial Fair Play, and could not come close to FC Porto’s financial demands.

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