Alan Varela is another star preparing for a big summer, as many European clubs are interested in signing him. The young Argentine midfielder has been one of the star players for Porto this season, despite only joining last summer. His presence in the middle of the park for the Portuguese club has been impressive, which has caused big clubs to be interested in signing him.
Varela has been deployed as a defensive or central midfielder this season. He has helped Porto keep the best defensive record in the league, as they’ve only conceded 17 goals in 24 games. So, who is Alan Varela, and what’s he doing so well that several big clubs want to snatch him up this coming summer after just one year in the Portuguese league?
Who is Alan Varela?
To begin with, Alan Varela is only 22. Despite his larger-than-life on-pitch personality, which is quite perfect for his equally big stature, Varela was born in 2001 and will only turn 23 in July. This may be hard to believe for many who have seen him turn up in big games, especially against Arsenal in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie against Porto in Portugal, which ended in a 1-0 win for the Portuguese side.
Varela was born in Isido Casanova, a small town in Greater Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was recruited into the youth team of Boca Juniors at just 11, where he played until 2020 before breaking into the first team. His debut for the senior team came in December 2020, just one year after signing his professional contract with the club. He came on as a late substitute against Independiente, marking his first senior appearance with a win.
He continued to be consistent throughout the next few years, and in the summer of 2023, a big opportunity came knocking: the chance to play in Europe for a team that last won the UEFA Champions League in 2004. Porto tied him to a five-year deal with a transfer fee above €8 million. He has been more than excellent for his new club, scoring five goals from very deep in midfield, which has seen him likened to Declan Rice.
Alan Varela on European Giants’ radar
Alan Varela’s meteoric jump to the summit of Portuguese football hasn’t gone unnoticed by big clubs like Liverpool, PSG, and Borussia Dortmund, who are looking into tempting the young Argentine to leave Porto just one year into his long-term, five-year deal with the Portuguese club, which quite makes sense.
Liverpool and PSG are frontrunners, and the move will make more sense for Liverpool, who are looking to rebuild with a new manager after Jurgen Klopp leaves his post at the end of the season. Liverpool’s injury problems this season have only proven the need for the club to have huge squad depth. Besides, Wataru Endo is 31, and there’s no better long-term replacement for him at the club than 21-year-old Alan Varela.
PSG are also trying to rebuild a squad that is capable of functioning without their star man, Kylian Mbappe, who is set to leave the French club after seven seasons to join Real Madrid this summer. PSG may offer both Porto and Varela a better deal from a financial standpoint, which may be tempting for both parties.
Varela’s talent and hard work have brought him this far, and may take him away from Porto in the next few months if everything goes according to plan.
