Samu obsessed with the title, unfazed by transfer talk | OneFootball

Samu revealed in an interview with ‘Europa Press’ that since childhood he has dreamed of participating in a World Cup for national teams with Spain. That goal is still distant, and his passport to North America has yet to be stamped by ‘La Roja’. Before that World Cup chapter, however, there are many challenges to face at FC Porto, where the forward maintains an obsession that surpasses all others: winning the national championship.

Samu has already ruled out a departure during the January transfer window, aligning himself with the blue and white management, who are also not considering negotiating the Spanish international during this period. The club is counting on him to try to reclaim the national title, which has eluded the Dragons for the past three seasons.

Besides being the most expensive signing in FC Porto’s history, Samu is currently the player with the highest market value in the squad, valued by ‘Transfermarkt’ at 50 million euros. The numbers he has posted since arriving at the Dragão last summer have made him a target for several European clubs; recently, his name has been linked to Tottenham, from the attractive Premier League. Even if this interest turns into contacts, the career project agreed upon by all parties, including FC Porto, points to Samu staying at Estádio do Dragão at least until the end of the current season.

Financial Return

Motivated by the “new mentality” that Francesco Farioli has introduced to the team, Samu will not push for a move in the next window. His connection to the blue and whites now also has sentimental value, as well as the conviction that “the numbers don’t lie”: improving his statistics at FC Porto is the ideal springboard to later achieve his World Cup dream. On that stage, he could further increase his market value, rewarding the club’s investment in him with a transfer that ensures financial return on Porto’s biggest investment – 32 million euros – protected by a 100 million euro release clause and a contract until 2029.

Protection against Deniz Gül?

Absent from the match against Georgia by decision of Luis de la Fuente, Samu hopes to play today in Seville, against Turkey and Deniz Gül, in a match that could secure ‘La Roja’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Should he take the field, he will be immediately protected by the Spanish national team: according to FIFA, a player who exceeds three caps for one national team is prevented from representing another, which would close the door to Nigeria, the country of origin of Samu’s parents.

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