Revenge: The Story of the Shadow

Love the update, and also the signing and banner.

I have a banner I made for A Bola who are a big sports newspaper in Portugal if you want to use it.

[IMG]https://fmshots.com/bk/03KdLNX.jpg[/IMG]

@TheMadridista Thanks, really hope he does well for us
@Walter That's awesome! Thanks a bunch! Bob would be proud!

Porto continue their summer transfers with a move for Swiss international Valentin Stocker from FC Basel for an undisclosed fee. The other big news today concerned defensive midfielder Fernando, who has completed a £10 million to Ajax. The fans have expressed their happiness with both transfers, reportedly impressed with Stocker's ambition and determination to succeed, and were more than satisfied with the fee received for Fernando.

Stocker began his career at the tender age of 7, where he played for the SC Kriens youth team for 10 years. In 2006 he moved to Basel, where he enjoyed various successes with the club, including 5 league titles. The last of those titles came in Stocker's final season, where he won the treble, as well as reaching the Europa League semifinal. Stocker explained his reasoning for moving, stating that he wanted to be playing in the top level of European football regularly, and hoped that this move would cement his position in the Swiss national team.

Fernando is a different story all together. After moving to Porto in 2007 from Vila Nova FC, the Brazilian had a successful loan spell, before returning to form a formidable midfield partnership with the likes of Lucho Gonzalez. Fernando asserted his place in the Porto squad over the next couple of seasons, but quickly fell down the pecking order after a series of signings, resulting in former boss Paulo Fonseca transfer listing the 26 year old. In his time at the club, he made 117 appearances, scoring twice.

VALENTIN STOCKER WE LOVE YOU.

Sorry I have serious love for Stocker! Great Player imo! Superb update lad, keep this up and you will be an SOTM contender! Maybe not this month but definitely next!

I agree this is a SOTM contender

@Nathaniel- I really like him too, quality player! Thanks a bunch for the positive feedback!

@wellsy1498- That means a lot, thanks for the support!

Two more players have left Porto, as they continue their selling spree. The first one to leave is Andre Castro, a former Portuguese youth player. He has moved to Mainz for a fee of £850,000, signing a contract with the German club yesterday. The other player is Pedro Moreira, who has moved to Maritimo for £150,000. Both transfers will add to Porto's budget, as they plan to improve their squad ahead of the coming season. The sale were expected by the media, after they were left out of Porto's training camp squad list, which begins tomorrow.

Andre Castro was a Porto player from a young age, going in 2007. He has gone on loan three times, in the 08/09 season, the 09/10 season, and the 11/12 season to Oldhanense for the first two season, and Sporting Gijon for the third. He was also a regular for all the youth levels of the Portuguese national team, making an overall of 30 appearances, scoring 3 times. He has played for both club and country as a central or attacking midfielder, but can be deployed elsewhere, with varying degrees of success. He has expressed his delight with the move, stating that despite his love for his club, he was scared his career was becoming stagnant if he stayed any longer

Pedro Moreira was also a Porto boy through and throughout, joining the club as a 18 year old. His went on loan several times to the likes of Gil Vicente, but failed to cement a place in the first team, meaning he played his trade with the Porto B team, upon his return. This led him to move from Porto, and despite the fact that he has yet to talk to the media, sources close to the player state that he is delighted with the deal, and hopes that this will lead to him getting more first team football in the future.

Nice transfers right there, players not very well known (at least to me), Wonder how will they turn out, I will follow!

@Mohamed Thanks mate

Today, we will have a break from the transfer news to bring you a segment on some young talent arising in FC Porto. Despite the countless rising stars in the club, today we will be taking a look at Juan Fernando Quintero, Mauro Caballero and Kelvin.

Quintero is a Columbian attacking midfielder, also capable of playing striker, who is showing a lot of promise in the Portuguese League, and was a star player in the U20 World Cup in Turkey. His style of play as well as his size and talented left foot has drawn comparison to Lionel Messi. He joined Porto on July 1st 2013 from Pescara, after the club beat the likes of Inter Milan for his signature. In the World Cup in Turkey he had 2 assists and 2 goals in 3 games, and won several awards including best player in the group stages, and best goal of the tournament.

Caballero is a similar type of player, standing at 5foot 9 inches, although plays more attackingly, generally as an out and out striker. His father was also called Mauro Calallero Sr, who is also a striker who played for the likes of Olimpia and Libertad. The Paraguayan has drawn attention from scouts from across the country, impressing on a loan spell at Libertad.

Kelvin is a different style of player, more wide and more skilful rather than creative. His selfishness and raw talent has seen him being courted by several big European clubs. He moved to Porto in 2011, before being loaned out to Rio Ave the following year. Last term, he played a vital part in the Porto B team, leading them he multiple success at the young age of 20.

Porto have turned their attention to buying youth, as they complete the signing of Emmanuel Badu, the defensive midfielder from Udinese for a fee expected to be around 5M The Ghanaian international met the media last night, and said that he was glad to be joining such a popular club, and almost cried when the deal nearly fell through. He is expected to replace leaving former club captain Lucho Gonzalez, who is widely expected to leave this week.

Badu began his career at Berekum Arsenal in Ghana, before moving around a lot, to clubs like FC Berlin, and Deportivo de Huelva. Despite having trials with Middlesbrough and Wolves, he ended up signing for Udinese at the end of the 09/10 season. After making his debut agains Florentina, he failed to make an impact until the 11/12 season, where he became a regular, due to the departure of Gokhan Inler. Internationally, Badu has played a lot for the youth team, before quickly being promoted to the first team. So far, he has made 41 appearances, scoring 7 times.

Fans of Porto have spoken of their admiration at the vision the manager is showing with his transfers, getting rid of the deadwood in the squad, and adding young, talented footballers, who are showing lots of promise. This testament has been shared by the board, who are reportedly very pleased with the progress the team has made since his appointment.

Keep up the good work!

@Seni Thanks mate

You disappoint me. I thought this was a new update when I clicked on it.

@Pixel I am really sorry, I got a new computer and it has been acting funny, so I am on my iPad. I will try getting an update out today.