Winger didn’t arrive, door opens for Mora… and more | OneFootball

From a qualitative standpoint, FC Porto’s summer transfer window was clearly positive; however, to reach an almost perfect level, one piece was missing: a winger to join Pepê, William Gomes, and Borja Sainz on the flanks of the attack, closing out the sector.

This was not for lack of effort from the board. The management led by André Villas-Boas explored options almost until the very end – names such as Manor Solomon (Villarreal) and Tom Watson (Brighton) were mentioned – but that route ultimately fell through. This does not concern the blue and white structure nor, above all, the coach, Francesco Farioli. According to information gathered, the administration and the Italian coach are perfectly aligned regarding their vision for the squad, especially when it comes to wingers.

In addition to total confidence in the abilities of Pepê and Borja, seen as likely starters on the right and left, respectively, the emergence of William Gomes – capable of playing on both flanks and delivering visible results – gives Farioli and his technical team reassurance. Even so, the season is long and FC Porto is competing on four fronts, so internal alternatives gain relevance. Rodrigo Mora stands out.

At this stage, the number 86 shirt is preferably seen as an option for the midfield – at Alvalade, he came on to replace the injured Gabri Veiga as a left-sided midfielder – but the young player, developed at Olival, has a track record that speaks for itself: he feels comfortable starting from the left wing, using diagonal runs and shooting with his right foot. His continued presence at Dragão suggests regular playing time, which could come precisely from the flank.

The Dragons also have a plan C. With the goal of developing players and supplying the first team, the B team is a source of alternatives for the winger positions. Names such as Brayan Caicedo and Ángel Alarcón stand out. The Colombian, 19, has occasionally been called up to train with the senior team and was even on the bench during the rout against Casa Pia (4-0) at Estádio do Dragão. Meanwhile, the Spaniard started preseason under Farioli’s guidance, after being called up for the Club World Cup.

Moreover, the squad list for the UEFA Europa League opens the door to more homegrown talent, such as wingers Gonçalo Sousa (19 years old) and André Miranda (17), who are included on list B. Gonçalo made his first-team debut in May of last year…

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