This has been a week of comebacks, and we are not just talking about two long-estranged Mancunian brothers.
After a difficult two year spell at Arsenal, Fabio Vieira is back in familiar surroundings.
The Emirates Stadium benchwarmer joins FC Porto on loan, hoping to rediscover the form that caught The Gunners’ eye in the first place during the summer of 2022.
Arsenal paid £34 million to sign Vieira. And with no option or obligation-to-buy clause in his Porto contract, this is not necessarily the end of his as-yet underwhelming career in English football.
But as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly come on leaps and bounds and as Mikel Merino arrives for £32 million to pad out Mikel Arteta’s midfield, Vieira finds himself in the same boat as the now-departed Emile Smith Rowe.
A highly talented footballer who, with so many years ahead of him and his potential still untapped, needs regular minutes if he is to develop into the playmaker he could be.
Arsenal loan Fabio Vieira back to FC Porto
Andre Villas-Boas, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea coach, is the president of FC Porto these days.
And, speaking to O Jogo, Villas-Boas opened up on the discussions with brought Vieira home to the Estadio do Dragao with the Aveiro-born 24-year-old a ‘special request’ of head coach Vitor Bruno.
“The good son returns home and here is Fabio Vieira, with all his magic, his left foot, goals and assists,” a smiles a delighted Villas-Boas. “A boy who left great memories in the blue and white universe and who now returns home to continue spreading magic.
“We are very pleased. We know perfectly well what he is worth. (It was) a special request from the coach for his return.
“A difficult and easy deal. Difficult because he is a player with the quality to play in any league in the world, but he agreed to come to FC Porto because of his emotional love for the club. Easy because Arsenal helped in this negotiation.
“They were outstanding in carrying it out and we are grateful for their co-operation.”
Vieira started brightly at Arsenal – scoring a stunner against Sheffield United shortly after his arrival – but fell out of favour after struggling to adapt to the physicality and speed of English football.
He made only 11 Premier League appearances last season, and started just five times in two years.
Even after so long stuck on the bench, however, Villas-Boas expects Vieira to come flying out of the blocks back at Porto.
Vieira departs as Mikel Merino arrives at the Emirates
“We are not talking about a player who needs to adapt,” adds the ex-Marseille boss, Vieira handed the number ten shirt. “He is ready and knows the responsibility of wearing the FC Porto jersey. We are sure that he will perform very well.
“Historic numbers are numbers of great responsibility. The number 10 is normally attributed to magicians and this is a responsibility that will fall on Fabio. We are sure that he will distribute this magic.
“When I asked him if he wanted to keep the number 10, his answer was immediately affirmative and he assumed this responsibility without fear, as he assumes his desire for the ball.”
While Vieira departs, Merino arrives.
The Spain star secured his £32 million switch to the English capital this week, looking to succeed where he struggled at Newcastle United during a previous stint in the Premier League.
Merino could make his Arsenal debut in Saturday’s clash with Brighton and Hove Albion.
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