Arsenal sent Fabio Vieira to Porto on a season-long loan deal last summer.
The Gunners signed the Portuguese midfielder in 2022. Arsenal paid an initial £30 million for Vieira, and he showed flashes of brilliance in the famous red and white.
But, he just couldn’t show any form of consistency, and Arteta chose to keep Ethan Nwaneri in the squad over Vieira as a result last summer.
The 24-year-old is loving life at Porto, but his club’s president, Andre Villas-Boas, has now made a surprising claim about his future beyond the end of this season.
Porto president Andre Villas-Boas comments on Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira’s future
Vieira was at Arsenal for two full seasons following his move from Porto.
The versatile midfielder made 49 appearances under Arteta in all competitions, but just 17 of those came from the start.
It became very clear that Vieira was nowhere near the top of the Arsenal manager’s pecking order, so he was loaned out to Porto last summer.
After a difficult start there, Vieira has impressed massively on loan, so much so that Porto would love to keep him beyond the end of this season.
It has been widely reported that Arsenal are ready to sell Vieira this summer, but the Portuguese club’s president, Villas-Boas, who previously managed Tottenham and Chelsea, has now suggested that the North London giants could do a U-turn because they still ‘continue to believe’ in him.
He told O Jogo: “Fabio is one of our own, someone who will always be welcomed with open arms, he knows these corners like no one else, that’s why we brought him in.
“He’s now at a unique moment, recognised by all as one of the most in-form players. Based on that, the same reasons that led Arsenal to sign him for €35 million may be the same ones that make Arsenal continue to believe in him – and we lose him.”
READ MORE: Fabio Vieira comments on key change happening to him away from Arsenal
What should Arsenal do with Fabio Vieira this summer?
Arteta has always admired Vieira and his ability.
The Porto star’s quality on the ball, vision and versatility makes him an excellent player to have in the squad, but his physicality is a big concern.
Vieira will enter the final two years of his contract this summer. The upcoming window is the perfect opportunity for Arsenal to cash in on him.
The last thing Andrea Berta should do is allow Vieira to be on the books for another year, which would then give him the opportunity to enter the final 12 months of his contract in 2026.
Selling him this summer will give Arsenal the best chance of recouping a good chunk of the money they paid to sign him in 2022.
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