Pinto da Costa put his house up as collateral to keep FC Porto in UEFA | OneFootball

Curiously, the episode is described as an exchange of provocations between the supporters of Pinto da Costa and those of André Villas-Boas, as read in the book: “The critical situation that the SAD faced [in 2024] led Villas-Boas (who had already given up his salary) to lend 500,000 euros from his own pocket in the very month he took office” – money that would be returned “without any interest payment.” In fact, Villas-Boas later stated that he did it “with an open heart” and in “response to an urgent cash flow situation.”

This “demonstration of love,” defended by Villas-Boas supporters, was pointed out by the supporters of Pinto da Costa as an “act of exhibitionism.” In contrast, they recall what happened in March 2018, when the Porto SAD needed 3.5 million euros to meet UEFA's requirements under the settlement agreement and thus not be excluded from European competitions.

Without allowing departures in the winter market, in an attempt to win the championship and stop Benfica's four-in-a-row (a goal that was eventually achieved), the Dragons were counting on the inflow of funds from a club payment that did not materialize, forcing them to find solutions in just 24 hours.

“At that time, Pedro Pinho went to Banco Carregosa to arrange that money privately, and the quickest way to get it was for Pinto da Costa to sign a promissory note. However, the bank required a guarantee: Pinho's house. The businessman agreed and reported the situation to the Dragons' president. In response, Pinto da Costa said that if Pinho, who was not an administrator, 'offered' his home as a guarantee, he would have to do the same. And so it happened,” as recounted in the book Capitão de Abril.

Pinto da Costa later explained the episode to administrators Adelino Caldeira and Fernando Gomes, who showed solidarity. “The promissory note worth 3.5 million euros was signed by Pinto da Costa, with the endorsement of Gomes, Caldeira, and Pinho, with the houses of Pinto da Costa and Pedro Pinho presented as guarantees. Pinto da Costa received the 3.5 million loan from Banco Carregosa and transferred it to FC Porto, thus avoiding default with UEFA.”

Four months later, with the club in a better financial situation thanks to the sales of players like Ricardo Pereira (sold for 22 million euros), Diogo Dalot (22 million), Willy Bolly (12 million), Miguel Layún (4 million), and Gonçalo Paciência (3 million), FC Porto “settled accounts with Pinto da Costa and then the president paid off the promissory note with Banco Carregosa.”

This is one of the most surprising episodes recounted in Capitão de Abril – André Villas-Boas and the Unfinished Revolution. The book also brings other relevant episodes about the last years of Pinto da Costa's presidency, the infamous General Assembly with assaults on Porto fans (in November 2023), the campaign and elections of April 2024 (in which Villas-Boas decisively ended 40 years of Pinto da Costa's dominance), and the first year of Villas-Boas's presidency.

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