Porto respond to Liverpool, Manchester United and City interest – €60m clause “not scaring sharks”

Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City have been linked with interest in FC Porto teenager Oskar Pietuszewski in recent weeks. The Portuguese club now appear ready to act quickly to protect their position.

The Polish winger has scored two goals for the club, including the remarkable strike against Benfica that quickly went viral after he dribbled past Nicolás Otamendi. Since then, his profile has grown rapidly across Europe.

The reports linking Pietuszewski with clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City appeared shortly after that Benfica performance. Now Porto are preparing their response.

A new contract looms

The player’s current contract runs until January 2029. That length was the maximum allowed because Oskar Pietuszewski was still a minor when he signed.

However, the situation will change once he turns 18 on May 20. At that point, Porto will be able to negotiate a longer contract.

After the first reports of Premier League attention emerged, Porto have already started preparing a new contract for the 17-year-old winger. According to A Bola, the club want to extend Pietuszewski’s deal once he turns 18 at the end of the season.

The Portuguese club are already planning to extend the deal until June 2031. And such a move would show how seriously Porto are taking the growing interest around the player. 

Pietuszewski only arrived in the winter transfer window, but his impact has been immediate.

Current release clause is ‘not scary’

The player’s €60m (£52m) release clause is not necessarily seen as a major obstacle.

The Portuguese newspaper explain that figure does not scare some of the European “sharks” already monitoring the winger’s development.

Given his age and early impact in Portugal, the expectation is that several top clubs could view that valuation as manageable. This remains true if his progression continues. As former Poland international and ex-Polish FA president Zbigniew Boniek said, he would not be surprised to see Oskar Pietuszewski one day playing in England.

Still, Porto’s intention is clear. The club view Pietuszewski as a long-term project and want to secure his future before the market pressure increases further.

Rapid rise in Portugal

The winger’s rise has been quick since arriving from Jagiellonia in a deal worth €8m (£6.9m) plus €2m (£1.7m) in bonuses. Despite being only 17, he has already featured regularly under manager Francesco Farioli.

In Liga Portugal this season he has played seven matches and accumulated 351 minutes. During that time he has scored two goals and provided one assist, while registering seven shots with four on target.

Those performances, combined with his age and potential, explain why clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City are now paying close attention.

Porto, however, are trying to stay one step ahead by locking him into a longer contract before that interest intensifies even further.