How Porto could be lining up in Champions League had they not sold £367m worth of talent in the last decade
PORTO will fight for their lives to stay in the Champions League tonight.
But they could have lined up very differently against Inter Milan had they not offloaded £367million-worth of stars in the last 10 seasons.
Porto boast a host of top talents including midfielder Otavio, defender Pepe and goalkeeper Diogo Costa.
However, the Portuguese giants have always had star names in their ranks.
And they usually end up being sold for huge fees to cash-rich European heavyweights.
Indeed, had Porto decided to cling on to most of their players, they could have fielded an incredible XI as they chase a goal against Inter this evening…
GK: JOSE SA — £2m
Left Porto for Olympiacos in 2018 and is now starring for Wolves in the Premier League.
RB: DANILO — £27m
Joined Real Madrid in 2015 before moving to Man City in 2017; now plays for Juventus after 2019 switch.
CB: EDER MILITAO — £44m
Been at Real since 2019 winning two titles and a Champions League in that time.
CB: ELIAQUIM MANGALA — £42m
Became Premier League’s most expensive defender when he joined Man City in 2014; now a free agent after spells at Valencia, Everton and St-Etienne.
LB: ALEX SANDRO — £23m
Signed by Juventus in 2015 and continues to be a key starter in Italy after five title wins.
CM: VITINHA — £36m
Former Wolves loanee secured shock move to PSG last summer but is yet to score in 37 appearances.
CM: RUBEN NEVES — £16m
Criminally low price for now-Wolves captain who has been with club since 2017 and turned them from Championship side into Prem giants.
RW: FABIO VIEIRA — £34m
Swapped Porto for Arsenal last summer but is still waiting to deliver best performances after suffering injuries.
AM: JAMES RODRIGUEZ — £40m
Joined Monaco in 2013 before becoming a superstar at Real Madrid; also played for Bayern Munich, Everton and Al-Rayyan before signing for Olympiacos last year.
LW: LUIS DIAZ — £50m
Snapped up by Liverpool in January 2022 and became instant smash hit before having current term derailed by injury.
ST: HULK — £53m
Made surprise move to Russian side Zenit in 2012/13 season despite being rated as one of world football’s top talents; spent several years in China with Shanghai SIPG and is now in Brazil with Atletico Mineiro.
TOTAL COST OF SALES—£367m
