“Here We Scout” with Fabrizio Romano: Liga Portugal
The transfer market is closed, but the scouting time never ends here on Sorare. Our focus for this week is on Portugal’s big three: it was an interesting summer for Porto, Sporting and Benfica, as always keen on signing top talents for present and future. Those looking for U23 prospects on Sorare can always find big talents in Liga Portugal.
Porto invested a €20m club record fee for David Carmo, a top-level center back that attracted interest from Premier League clubs. An injury penalized him in his path to Braga but he’s now back at top level, a very good deal for Porto. The future there is called Gabriel Veron: 19 years old, Brazilian midfielder, has been signed from Palmeiras for €10m as Porto needed to replace Fabio Vieira who joined Arsenal in the summer. Internally at the club, they’re convinced that Gabriel can be an excellent addition for the future as well.
Benfica have signed a really fantastic player in Enzo Fernandez. I’m told that AC Milan scouts had been monitoring it for months as a priority but wanted to invest main part of the budget on Charles de Ketelaere, this is why the deal didn’t happen; Benfica on the other hand were fast on reaching an agreement with River Plate for this talented midfielder after strong competition by Wolverhampton; the fee was around €10m plus add-ons. With 10 goals at River Plate, Enzo was a top player from Argentina’s Superliga this past year on Sorare, and I’d absolutely sign him up!
David Neres has also been a very smart deal by the Eagles, because for just €15m Benfica have found a winger with speed, great Brazilian skills and also a good deal of experience after the chapters with Ajax and Shakhtar. Neres has been a hit; 4 assists in Champions League qualifying to get Benfica into the dance, and 5 goals across all competitions including the winner at Juventus.
It was also an important transfer window for Ruben Amorim’s Sporting. The manager wanted to seal up Pedro Porro permanently; his €8.5m buy option clause was triggered, but Manchester City will keep a buy-back clause for €45m as they believe there’s still a lot of growth to come from Pedro, who already has 3 assists on the season. An exciting fullback with enormous potential; just like Francisco Trincao, a kind of modern winger with speed and ability to provide many assists this season after an experience in Premier League with Wolves. Trincao can score as well, and he has 4 already to his name just two months into the season.
Barcelona have maintained a buy back clause for the next 3 years, this shows Trincao’s potential for the future; Sporting have signed him on loan with € 10m mandatory buy option. And the feeling in the club is that he can be a star of many years.
