Alan Varela revived at FC Porto after spell on the bench | OneFootball

Alan Varela once again showed his best performance in Francesco Farioli's team, after a January in which he started most matches on the bench. This was a new experience in the career of the 24-year-old Argentine, who is used to being a starter at FC Porto, but it seems to have done him good. The competition from Pablo Rosario served as a wake-up call that demanded an immediate reaction from the South American midfielder.

To the naked eye, he appears to be a more committed athlete with greater offensive dynamism, as evidenced by his growing influence in the attacking midfield and even in the final third. In the last three league matches, Varela has significantly increased the number of passes into areas near the opponent's box and now averages one shot per game—attributes that until now were more associated with Rosario.

On the defensive side, the Argentine has raised his standards even further, showing greater aggression in challenges, especially in ball recoveries and duels won. Alan Varela has emerged revitalized after his spell on the bench and, for now, has eased the pressure from Pablo Rosario, who had been standing out in Francesco Farioli's team.

However, the Argentine will need to be careful if he wants to cement his place in the starting eleven, as he risks suspension in the league. If he receives a yellow card in the home match against Rio Ave, he will automatically be suspended for the following game against Arouca, potentially losing his spot again to the Dominican international.

The competition between the two benefits the team, which currently has two players with credentials for the most defensive midfield position, although Rosario has the advantage of versatility, allowing him to occupy other areas on the pitch. In fact, the two have already started together in the eleven.

World Cup dream

Alan Varela still holds on to the hope of being called up for the 2026 World Cup. Not a regular presence in the group led by Lionel Scaloni, the FC Porto midfielder was included in the Argentine coach’s squad for the last round of World Cup qualifiers, although he was not used. Even so, the fact that he is on Lionel Scaloni’s radar gives him some hope of fulfilling that dream.

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