Arsenal transfer labelled ‘ridiculous’ by former Porto presidential candidate – ‘this is a bad deal’

Lewis Oldham
Arsenal target Vieira

Ex-Porto presidential candidate Nuno Lubo thinks the deal Arsenal have in place to sign Fabio Vieira is “bad” for the Portuguese outfit.

It was first revealed last week that Arsenal were looking to sign the midfielder. Porto later confirmed that the Gunners have completed the transfer. 

The Premier League club are understood to be paying €35m up front with €5m in add-ons.


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The midfielder enjoyed a breakout season for Porto during the 2021/22 campaign. He grabbed six goals and 14 assists in 27 outings in the Primeira Liga.

Vieira is yet to make his senior debut for Portugal, but he has shone for their U21 side. He has 13 goals in 21 appearances.

Lobo came third in Porto’s presidential elections in 2020. He does not understand the Vieira sale as he has been “one of the gems of Porto”:

“He is one of the best players at FC Porto and leaving for this fee is a bad deal,” Lobo said (quotes via Evening Standard).

“We are talking about one of the gems of FC Porto, one of the players who came from our academy. The DNA of FC Porto.

“We lost him. It’s another piece of business that I don’t understand.

“We are talking about ridiculous values for players who represent and are FC Porto.

“They are from our academy and we are letting them go for unbelievable fees.”

Elsewhere, Dean Saunders has encouraged Arsenal to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney. He scored twelve goals in the Premier League in 2021/22.

“If I was Arsenal, I’d sign Toney from Brentford. I would sign him from Brentford, sorry Brentford fans,” Saunders told talkSPORT.

“He’s got rid of [Pierre-Emerick] Aubameyang, I think he did the right thing for the sake of the dressing room. He was undermining him every day and he’s trying to build a club, young players, great players.

“I think Arteta’s on the right track. He would be a good signing.

“There are a few options and one of them is Ivan Toney. I would sign him if I was Arteta.”