FC Porto head coach Francisco Farioli has attributed the sale of teenage midfielder Rodrigo Mora to Italian club Roma to financial necessity, placing responsibility for the deal on club president André Villas-Boas.
Speaking ahead of Porto's match against Arouca, Farioli explained that the transfer, valued at more than 50 million euros, represents the highest net return in the history of the Portuguese club. He noted that the move is also the largest signing in Roma's history and ranks among the top five sales ever recorded by FC Porto.
Farioli emphasized that the transaction was a market opportunity to raise funds that a club like Porto requires to keep moving forward. He acknowledged his discomfort surrounding the Mora situation, but stated that the final decision rested with president André Villas-Boas.
Squad usage and playing time breakdown
The manager pushed back against suggestions that Mora had been reduced to a third-choice option, citing specific squad appearance statistics to justify his selection choices. Farioli pointed out that Mora logged 1,946 total minutes of playing time over the course of the season, compared to 2,699 minutes for teammate Gabri Veiga.
In domestic league play, Mora recorded 1,177 minutes on the pitch, while Veiga registered 1,622 minutes. In the UEFA Europa League, Farioli noted that both players featured almost identically, with Mora accumulating 433 minutes and Veiga logging 442 minutes. Mora started 21 matches in the starting eleven, while Veiga earned 31 starts.
Farioli admitted that managing the period leading up to the transaction was not easy for either the player or the squad due to the extensive media speculation surrounding the deal. He added that the transfer is now in the past and wished Mora success in his upcoming debut in Italian football, declaring that he would be the player's primary supporter.
Transfer market targets and squad movements
Addressing wider transfer market rumors, Farioli declined to speak directly about the potential signing of Mexican striker Santiago Giménez. While acknowledging that numerous player names had been linked with the club, the manager expressed a desire to see additional signings before the transfer window closes. He also spoke favorably about a potential return for Fofana, noting that the player remains well loved by everyone at Porto and left lasting memories.
Player availability for Arouca fixture
Turning to squad availability for the upcoming league match against Arouca, Farioli confirmed that midfielder Alan Varela has recovered and will be available for selection. Team members André Silva and Alberto Costa are also included in the matchday squad for the fixture.
Meanwhile, Italian side Bologna is attempting to secure central defender Prpic from FC Porto. The Serie A club has submitted a proposal for a loan move with an option to buy the Croatian defender, whom Porto previously purchased for 4.5 million euros.
