Football Season Guide

FC Porto

In


Renzo Saravia (def) Racing, ARG; Ivan Marcano (def) Roma, ITA; Yordan Osorio (def) Guimarães – return from loan; Sérgio Oliveira (mid) PAOK, GRE – return from loan; Romário Baró (mid) B team/youth system; Luiz Diaz (mid/att) Junior FC, COL; Nakajima (mid) Al-Duahil, QAT; Zé Luis (att) Spartak Moscow, RUS; Marchesin (gk) and Uribe (mid), America, MEX

Out


Casillas (r)(gk) retired; Fabiano (sp)(gk) end of contract; Maxi Lopez (sp)(def) end of contract; Éder Militão (k)(def) Real Madrid, SPA; Felipe (r)(def) Atletico Madrid, SPA; Hector Herrera (r)(mid) Atletico Madrid, SPA; Oliver Torres (sp)(mid) Sevilla, SPA; Y. Brahimi (k)(mid/att) Al-Rayyan, QAT; Hernani (sp)(mid/att) Levante, SPA; André Pereira (sp)(att) Vit. Guimarães – on loan; Adrian Lopez (sp)(att) end of contract;

Big upset in 2018-19 as Dragões lost the title after having grabbed a comfortable lead of 7 points during the season. The squad got hurt by a few highly important departures: Militão and Felipe in defence, Herrera, Oliver and Brahimi in the midfield; the financial capacity to replace them all is questionable. Perhaps the most critical area will be in goal, as Porto are desperately trying to find a suitable replacement for the unfortunate Casillas whose health problem forced him an early and abrupt retirement. Nakajima is an exciting new signing and perhaps the best man to replace Brahimi in the creativity department. Luiz Diaz gave good signs during the preseason but is still a question mark. Osorio had a great season at Guimarães, but will he make it on the big stage? Marega continues on the club at the moment, but he has been heavily linked with moves to EPL. Should he leave, Porto won’t necessarily need a replacement as former Spartak Zé Luís seems to have been signed to replace him. After a long period without any significant name coming from the youth system, Porto seems to be ready to bet on a few youngsters, in which a big part of the fans’ hope will rely this season. Eyes on the likes of Diogo Leite in defence, Romário Baró in midfield and Fábio Silva in attack. The squad seems weaker in relation to last season’s already questionable group. Defence, in particular, seems quite a possible liability during the season. Update: Club just signed goalkeeper Marchesin and creative midfielder Uribe, both from Mexican side America. Two signings expected to be vital for the season.

Target


The fans won't demand anything less than the title in any circumstance, especially after last season's heartbreaking disappointment.