Pinto da Costa rejects ‘lack of investment’ in Porto team

On Monday, the president of FC Porto dismissed allegations of a “lack of investment” in the main football team, ensuring that a possible budget increase for next season would not be linked to the club’s election.

“It is not true that there is not enough investment. I remember that this season we bought Grujic for 10 million euros. [ME], Gabriel Veron for 10 IU, David Carmo for 20 IU and others like Eustaquio. There was no lack of investment. Now the investments that will be made have nothing to do with the elections,” Pinto da Costa assured.

The manager, who attended the 20th O Gaiense gala this Monday in Vila Nova de Gaia, stressed that in his managerial career he has never “signed players or coaches to win an election.”

“Only unscrupulous people can think like that. I do not think about the elections, there is still more than a year ahead. At the moment, I’m not even a candidate, because it’s not time yet. in order to be a candidate, so I will invest a million more or less than usual,” he added.

Regarding the performance of the team in the I League, in which it takes second place, lagging behind the leader Benfica by 10 points, the president of FC Porto said that the “dragons” will continue to fight for the title, nine days are left until the end. competition.

“We only give up when it’s mathematically impossible. Let’s meet in the next game.” [com o Portimonense, a 2 de abril] as ready to capture, as well as the following. it is natural that [o título] those who are in front have it easier than those who are behind,” Pinto da Costa analyzed.

The president of FC Porto also commented on the disappointment of coach Sergio Conceição after the team’s elimination in the Champions League against Inter Milan in the 1/8 finals.

“Any FC Porto playing at that time must have shown a lot of disappointment because we all had the desire and ambition to get through. We were convinced that this would be possible, and the game showed that this feeling was reasonable. Sergio spoke with disappointment, and if he spoke, I would be upset too,” he admitted.

The leader was present at the O Gaiaense newspaper event to pay tribute to the memory of former player and former club manager Fernando Gomes, who died last November remembering the “bibot” as a “model athlete”.

“He was one of the best players and strikers of all time. He serves as an example for everyone. He was an exemplary athlete who gave his all on the field. This is what is required of a professional and athlete of FC Porto. two Golden Boots, he concluded.