Zaidu and Moura fail to convince Farioli, Porto left-back spot open | OneFootball

FC Porto still do not have their squad fully settled, and further movement in the transfer market is still expected. Among the areas causing the greatest concern within the blue-and-white structure is the left side of the defence, seen as one of the priorities for the summer.

While right-back offers greater guarantees, the same cannot be said of the opposite flank. The position is far from being properly filled, and doubts about its consistency have been growing.

With FC Porto returning to the Champions League next season, it is essential to strengthen the team’s defensive solidity. Even so, some positions still lack sufficient security, and the hope is that the market will make it possible to find more reliable solutions for the future.

Francisco Moura and Zaidu have not convinced as alternatives capable of definitively taking over the left side. The 26-year-old Portuguese was frequently used by Francesco Farioli during the last season, but he made several mistakes that ended up harming the Dragons’ results, namely in the draw against Sporting in the Primeira Liga.

Criticism of the full-back has grown, and if a new option for the position emerges, he could lose ground both in the starting eleven and on the bench. In 2025/26, Francisco Moura finished with three goals and two assists in 32 matches. However, the inconsistency in the way he approaches and deals with certain situations was one of the most evident aspects of his spell at the club, which he joined from Famalicão in the 2024/25 season.

Zaidu is the other alternative currently available to the Italian coach, but the Nigeria international still does not inspire confidence. At FC Porto since 2020/21, he has never managed to establish himself consistently, and doubts remain about his ability to play a significant role in the team.

Speed is the 29-year-old full-back’s main quality, but his performances continue to be marked by various limitations and weaknesses.

Given this scenario, the Porto board considers it necessary to find a safe and trustworthy solution for the position. Ideally, the intention is not to adapt Martim Fernandes to the left side, nor to use Jakub Kiwior in that role.

A stronger past

In recent seasons, FC Porto have struggled to find quality on the left side of defence, especially when compared with other periods in their history. Nuno Valente performed that role with distinction between 2002 and 2005, but several other players also filled the position competently.

Pedro Emanuel, between 2002 and 2009, Marek Cech, from 2005 to 2008, Jorge Fucile, between 2006 and 2010 and again from 2012 to 2014, and Álvaro Pereira, from 2009 to 2012, were some of the names who left their mark on the left flank. Later, Cissokho had two spells at the club, in 2008/09 and 2015/16.

Between 2011 and 2015, Alex Sandro was the great reference in the position, although he shared space with José Angel, who did not live up to expectations, in 2014/15. After the Brazilian’s departure, Miguel Layún took over at left-back between 2015 and 2017, before Alex Telles established himself as one of the last great standouts in the area, between 2016 and 2020.

More recently, Wendell represented FC Porto between 2021 and 2024, even sharing the position with Zaidu.

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