Farioli sees Borja Sainz as key figure in FC Porto's 2026/27 side | OneFootball

If it is up to FC Porto, Borja Sainz will continue in blue and white next season. The 25-year-old winger remains firmly in Francesco Farioli’s plans for 2026/27, despite a competitive and market context that could call his status within the team’s most-used core into question.

The first factor raising some doubts about the current assessment of Porto’s decision-makers has to do with Oskar Pietuszewski’s impact in just half a year at the club. The 18-year-old Pole was signed in January, in theory, to be an alternative to Borja Sainz, but ended up winning a starting spot in the domestic league, while the Spaniard, also benefiting from Pietuszewski’s exclusion from the UEFA squad list, had a clear path to establish himself as first choice in the Europa League.

Given the youngster’s response, Borja Sainz could see his situation reassessed at the Dragão… but that is unlikely to happen. The board led by André Villas-Boas views the Spaniard as an asset for 2026/27, and his departure would only be considered in the event of a significantly inflated offer. It should be remembered that the SAD invested €13.3 million in the signing, with a further €2 million possible in add-ons, while Norwich secured 20% of any future capital gain.

The board led by André Villas-Boas sees the Spaniard as an asset for 2026/27, and any departure would only be possible in a highly inflated market context

Moreover, FC Porto will not trigger the option, valid until the 30th, to buy 10% of the capital gains owed to Norwich in a future transfer for €1.5 million. It is worth stressing that, given the initial €13.3 million investment and the €2 million in add-ons, that buyback would only make sense in the event of a sale already around the €40 million mark. His contract, which runs until 2030, includes a €100 million release clause.

It is therefore within this market framework that the second destabilizing factor in the process may emerge. Previously linked with Athletic Bilbao, the winger was again the subject of reports yesterday claiming genuine interest from the Spaniards — Borja Sainz is, it should be recalled, an international for the Basque Country team — allegedly with direct contacts already made with FC Porto. However, according to the information gathered, at this moment neither the Dragons nor the agency representing the player have been approached regarding a possible transfer.

The plan for Borja Sainz is defined and does not involve any flexibility or discount on the market. FC Porto, which in 2026/27 will face new competitive demands with its return to the Champions League, is counting on the winger.

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