Diogo Costa tempted to take on the challenge of wearing the shirt | OneFootball

Diogo Costa could be on the verge of taking a step with strong symbolic weight by wearing FC Porto’s number 2 shirt. The proposal came from André Villas-Boas and is not exactly new, having already been discussed, especially after the death of Jorge Costa.

The iconic shirt, also worn by João Pinto, carries enormous historical and emotional weight in the Porto universe. More than just a number, the number 2 shirt is synonymous with leadership, identity, and high standards, values that have shaped successive generations at the club.

André Villas-Boas made it clear that he would like to see Diogo Costa take on that legacy, while stressing, however, that this scenario also depends on the Portuguese international remaining at the Dragão. The invitation, even if symbolic, highlights the importance the goalkeeper has gained in the present and how he is viewed within the blue-and-white structure.

Even so, the decision will not be simple. Diogo Costa maintains a strong connection to the number 99 shirt, associated with Vítor Baía, himself one of the greatest figures in the club’s history. Any eventual change would represent a significant emotional burden, which is why the goalkeeper and captain has been given complete time and freedom to reflect before deciding.

The recent context further reinforces the symbolic dimension of the number 2 shirt. Jorge Costa, already serving as an executive, was at the heart of a successful season on several levels at the club, with decisive influence over the three tiers under his responsibility, with the first team and the under-19s becoming champions and the B team finishing as the highest-ranked B team in Liga Portugal 2. That recent legacy makes it even more significant that the number could now become linked to Diogo Costa.

Since André Villas-Boas took over the FC Porto presidency in 2024, the number 2 shirt was only used last season by André Castro in the B team. This season it has remained without an owner and, next season, it could end up in the hands of Diogo Costa, if the goalkeeper stays at the club.

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