The second cut made by FC Porto manager Sérgio Conceição following the ten-day training camp in the Algarve has seen young full-backs Dinis Rodrigues and João Mendes return to the B team. This decision was not based on dissatisfaction with their performance, but rather to allow them to continue their development without rushing their progress. Dinis, who played for the U19 team last season, will now move on to the next stage of his development. João Mendes, who was the third-choice left-back in the first team, will now have the opportunity to gain more playing time in the B team.
The training camp in the Algarve provided valuable insights into the team's preparation for the upcoming season. One positive takeaway was the stability in the central defensive partnership of Pepe and Marcano, who showed solid performances in matches against Cardiff and Wolverhampton. In attack, the arrival of Fran Navarro has added more firepower to the team, complementing the already impressive performances from Taremi, Toni Martínez, and Namaso. There were also standout performances from young players from the academy in the friendly matches.
However, there were also areas that need improvement. With João Mário still recovering from a knee injury, the right-back position remains a concern, with Pepê currently filling in but limited in terms of offensive contributions. This highlights the urgent need for a new signing in that position, which is one of Sérgio Conceição's desires. In midfield, Grujic and Eustáquio are currently leading the race for the two positions, but the partnership has not yet clicked, with Grujic performing below his usual level. In terms of fitness, Veron and Evanilson continue to struggle with injuries.
Despite these areas of concern, FC Porto still has time to address the issues identified in the training camp. The expected arrival of new signings will provide more options for Sérgio Conceição. The team will face Rayo Vallecano in a friendly match tomorrow at the Estádio do Dragão as part of their preparations for the upcoming season.
