FC Porto president Andre Villas-Boas has opened up on the ‘top secret’ deal that saw the side sign Samu Aghehowa from Atletico Madrid in the summer.
Aghehowa has been set to sign for Chelsea after the Blues agreed a fee in the region of £35m for the forward, though the deal broke down in the final stages.
Porto swooped in to sign the striker, agreeing a deal to bring the 20-year-old to Portugal for just €15m (£12.5m).
Agehowa has since started the season in electric form and has scored 11 goals in 12 appearances across all competitions for Porto, including a Europa League brace against Manchester United. His performances have seen his value soar and earned the striker a first Spain call-up this month. He could make his debut for La Roja in this evening’s Nations League clash with Denmark.
Villas-Boas opened up on the deal and said Porto’s decision to allow Atletico Madrid to retain 50% of the player’s rights allowed them to snap up the striker for a modest fee. He said it was important to keep the details of the deal a ‘top secret’ to avoid competition from rival clubs.
Previously known as Samu Omorodion, the forward recently revealed he wants to be known as Samu Aghehowa – honouring his mother’s surname rather than that of his father.
“Omorodion deal was top secret for us. It was the only way to get it done, avoid leaks and get it done quick,” Villas-Boas said, as per Fabrizio Romano.
“We signed Samu for €15m for 50% of the player… if the other clubs knew about that, for sure it was gonna be a complicated one.”
