José Boto vs Luís Campos: The Intercontinental Final crafted in fluent Portuguese | OneFootball

This Wednesday, at 5pm UK time in Qatar, the Intercontinental Cup final kicks off, with PSG, winners of last season’s Champions League, taking on Flamengo, the reigning Libertadores champions.

On the surface, it’s a clash of recent champions, but there’s a fascinating link between these two clubs that goes beyond the trophies - a Portuguese connection at the heart of their operations.

Of course, we could talk about the talent on the pitch. PSG boast an array of elite players, from Vitinha and João Neves to Nuno Mendes and Gonçalo Ramos, while Flamengo have their own crop of Brazilian stars. But the common thread goes deeper, to the people shaping the squads behind the scenes.

Both clubs have a Portuguese guiding their squad construction and sporting strategy. At PSG it’s Luís Campos, formerly sporting director and now consultant, while at Flamengo it’s José Boto, the club’s sporting director. Two Portuguese minds running two of the world’s most successful teams.

How Luís Campos shaped a star-studded squad

Starting with Luís Campos, now 61, his reputation as one of the best in the business is well-earned. After a career as a coach in Portugal, he truly made his mark off the pitch, working for clubs like Celta de Vigo, Galatasaray, and even Real Madrid as a scout. But it was at Monaco that he really caught the world’s attention, helping develop stars like Kylian Mbappé, Fabinho, and Bernardo Silva during that surprise Monaco side under Leonardo Jardim.

Campos eventually joined PSG, tasked with managing a squad featuring Messi, Neymar, Mbappé, and Sergio Ramos. Despite the star-studded line-up, Champions League glory proved elusive in 2022/23. That season became a turning point. Campos began reshaping the club’s philosophy, bringing in younger, team-oriented players such as Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, and Fabián Ruiz, laying the foundations for last season’s success.

PSG’s spending hasn’t slowed - €380 million in 2023/24, €310 million in 2024/25, and €103 million so far this season - but the approach has shifted. Instead of chasing big-name stars, Campos has focused on young, high-potential talent that fits Luis Enrique’s playing style. The results speak for themselves. Domestically, PSG have dominated, while in Europe they finally lifted the Champions League last season, with players like Dembélé claiming the Ballon d’Or and others, including Nuno Mendes and Vitinha, earning recognition at the highest level.

José Boto, a scout with a knack for management

On the other side, José Boto has followed a similar path. Starting as a coach, he moved quickly into scouting and management, making a huge impact at Benfica by helping identify players like Ederson, Jan Oblak, Ángel Di María, Victor Lindelof, Axel Witsel, Nemanja Matic, Ramires, David Luiz, Luka Jovic, and Lazar Markovic - all of whom brought significant value to the club.

Boto’s philosophy is simple: it’s as important to protect the club from poor decisions as it is to make good ones. Spending on scouting saves money in the long run, and careful recruitment keeps clubs away from agents’ influence.

His success continued at Shakhtar Donetsk, where he helped develop Mykhailo Mudryk, sold to Chelsea for a record €70 million, and more recently he’s brought his expertise to Flamengo. Since joining last year, the results have been immediate, proving once again the impact of smart, considered sporting direction.

Both Campos and Boto show that behind every trophy and headline-grabbing transfer, there’s careful planning, vision, and a steady hand guiding the club’s future - and this Wednesday, their work takes centre stage on the world’s biggest stage.