The early morning chill at Sá Carneiro Airport tells a story of ambition. FC Porto’s squad boarded their flight for Austria this Monday at 9:15 AM. This trip marks the start of the second phase of their pre-season training. It’s where new coach Francesco Farioli will truly begin to shape his team.
Farioli didn’t hold back, calling up a hefty 30 players for this crucial training camp. Among them are young talents like João Moreira, Domingos Andrade, and Brayan Caicedo. These fresh faces are heading to Austria with a clear goal: to impress the Italian coach. This camp is their big chance to prove they belong in the first team.
Interestingly, a major figure was absent from the flight. André Villas-Boas, the club president, remained in Portugal. His reason for staying behind? Dealing with important transfer market matters. While the players sweat it out on the training pitch, Villas-Boas is working to strengthen the squad behind the scenes. Leading the delegation in his absence is Jorge Costa, the club’s professional football director.
Farioli’s chosen squad shows a mix of seasoned players and hungry youngsters. It’s a blueprint for the future of the Dragons, combining established names with emerging talent eager to make their mark.
Players Called Up for Austria Camp
- Goalkeepers: Diogo Costa, Cláudio Ramos, João Costa, Diogo Fernandes
- Defenders: Martim Fernandes, João Mário, João Moreira, Francisco Moura, Zaidu, Nehuén Pérez, Dominik Prpic, Gabriel Brás, Zé Pedro
- Midfielders: Alan Varela, Eustáquio, André Oliveira, Gabri Veiga, Rodrigo Mora, Vasco Sousa, Tomás Pérez, Marko Grujic, Iván Jaime, Domingos Andrade
- Forwards: Pepê, William Gomes, Borja Sainz, Brayan Caicedo, Deniz Gül, Danny Namaso, Samu