FC Porto, arguably the biggest club in Portugal and second only to SL Benfica on a domestic level, conquered Europe under the guidance of Jose Mourinho 12 years ago. The club, who have won the Portuguese top division 27 times, captured the UEFA Champions League in grand fashion back in 2004, having won it in 1987 as well.
Since then, they haven’t been able to reach those heights, only winning the Europa League five years ago, their second since 2003.
Competition has gotten better all around, but Porto could have done so much better, had they retained their top players over these last ten years. If you look back at all the world-class players who have gone through there, you could put together a pretty amazing team.
Since 2004, Porto have made over £500 million by selling their stars. Let’s see how things would look if they had done otherwise.
Formation: 4-3-3
Goalkeeper
Beto wasn’t actually sold, but released. He spent just two years with Porto, mainly serving as a back-up keeper to Helton, after joining in 2009.
The Lisbon-born stopper was used mostly in domestic cup competitions, and will always be remembered for saving a spot kick in the 2011 Portuguese Cup final with the scores level at 2-2. Porto would go on to win the trophy 6-2.
He would be loaned out to CFR Cluj in 2012, and was released by the club at the end of the loan spell. He joined Braga, thereafter, but would end up at Sevilla, where he would help the Spanish outfit win the Europa League in 2013 by saving two penalties.
Defence
Manchester City centre-backs Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala both belonged to the Portuguese side before they left for greener pastures. They haven’t totally convinced at the Etihad, but were both very solid defenders back at Porto.
Mangala joined City in 2014 for a reported £31.5 million transfer fee. Having signed for Porto three years prior, as a 20-year-old, he established himself as a first-choice defender in the side and impressed enough to have City come knocking.
Otamendi, meanwhile, signed for Porto in 2010, from Velez, and was sold to Valencia in 2014. The Argentinian cost the Etihad side £28.5 million when they brought him during last year’s preseason. A top player during his time at Porto and Valencia, but hasn’t quite found his feet yet this season.
Alvaro Pereira was also a defender at Porto, and helped them to the treble (Primera Liga, Taca de Portugal and Europa League). The versatile left-back, a prime option in the defence, now plays for Getafe on loan from Inter Milan. He spent three seasons with Porto, having signed in 2009, before departing for Inter.
We move on to Jose Bosingwa, a talented full-back with immense pace and great crossing ability in his day. He spent five years at the club, moving to Chelsea in 2008. He won the Champions League there, having won it with Mourinho's team in 2004. Bosingwa would later leave the Blues and move to QPR, but now plays in Turkey for Trabzonspor.
Midfield
Porto boast a wealth of talent in the midfield department in this set-up. Let’s start with Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez, Colombia’s 2014 FIFA World Cup hero.
Rodriguez won the Golden Boot award during the tournament, obviously finishing as the top scorer. He later joined Madrid, for a fee believed to be in the region of £70 million, from Monaco. But he really rose to fame at Porto, where he spent three trophy-laden seasons, winning the league three times, along with the Europa League and Taca de Portugal.
Joao Moutinho, another top midfield man who represented the Dragons, was sold to Monaco along with Rodriguez. He joined Porto in 2010, spending three seasons there as well. Moutinho is a brilliant player, able to operate anywhere in midfield, excelling in both attacking and defensive roles. It would have been massive for Porto if he had stayed.
Raul Meireles also features in this team. He now plays with Fenerbahce, but had stints at both Liverpool and Chelsea, after spending seven seasons at Porto. The midfielder won four league titles at Porto, also winning the Champions League and FA Cup with Chelsea.
Attack
This front three would strike fear into the best of defences, and would also give Barcelona’s MSN a run for their money (as long as taxes aren’t involved, of course).
This South American trio, consisting of Radamel Falcao, Hulk and Jackson Martinez, have loads of goals in them, especially during their Porto days. There’s really no telling how much the club could have achieved if they had all played together.
Falcao, now a Manchester United and Chelsea flop, scored 72 goals in 87 appearances for the club during two seasons, while Hulk recorded 89 from 170. The Brazilian has spent the last four seasons at Zenit Saint Petersburg and remains prolific in front of goal.
Martinez, like Falcao, moved to Atletico Madrid after a goal-laden Porto stint. He left the side, having scored 92 times in 132 appearances. Things didn’t work out so well in Spain, the Colombian scored just three goals for the Rojiblancos last season, and has since moved to Chinese Super League outfit Guangzhou Evergrande.
