Sergio Oliveira is joining Galatasaray for £2.5 million just one year after Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves were quoted £17 million for the FC Porto midfielder, Pedro Sepulveda writes on Twitter.
If you want an example of how quickly things can change in top-level football, look no further than this.
12 months ago, Oliveira was toasting the best – and certainly most prolific – season of his entire career. The Portugal international scored 20 goals in all competitions, including the one that knocked Juventus out of the Champions League.
For the record, he had never before scored more than five times in a single season at Porto.
Wolverhampton Wanderers wanted him (Jornal de Noticias). So did Tottenham Hotspur (Record); Two clubs with close ties to Oliveira’s agent, the always-influential Jorge Mendes.
Porto at the time, were demanding £17 million. And, given that Oliveira is now closing in on a £2.5 million move to Galatasaray, the Primeira Liga champions may be wishing they could turn back the clock.
What’s more, it is only a couple of weeks since Jose Mourinho’s Roma decided against triggering the £13 million clause in Oliveira’s contract after a short-lived and rather forgettable loan spell at the Stadio Olimpico.
Sergio Oliveira leaving Porto for Galatasaray
But why are Porto accepting a fee £15 million less than 12 months ago?
Well, according to A Bola, a side who were found to have breached Financial Fair Play rules in December – before being threatened with an exclusion from European competition – went into the summer under pressure to reduce a crippling wage bill (Sky Sports).
And the report adds that the departure of Oliveira – who had another three years left on his contract – will save Porto around £11.5 million between now and the summer of 2025.
You may have been expecting Wolves to renew their interest in Oliveira. But Bruno Lage is prioritising a more attack-minded midfielder. Joao Moutinho is staying and speculation over Ruben Neves’ future has gone quiet.
That, the Express and Star report, is why Joao Palhinha ended up at Fulham rather than Molineux.
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