Gimenez at Porto: Stats, Farioli's choices and January plans
Santiago Gimenez is showing efficiency at Porto but remains limited in playing time. Milan and Porto may reassess his loan deal this winter.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Author: jad99 from Graz, Austria
The stats for Santiago Gimenez at Porto look impressive at first glance: two goals in six competitive appearances. The Mexican forward, who joined from AC Milan on loan last summer, is averaging a goal every 87 minutes. However, his total playing time stands at just 173 minutes, highlighting his peripheral role under manager Francesco Farioli.
His start in Portugal has been complicated by criticism from management regarding his decision to join the Mexico national team during the international break in late September and early October. The club believed he should have remained in Oporto to work with the coaching staff, as he was still regaining fitness following a difficult summer spent away from the first-team squad at Milan.
In Farioli’s current attacking pecking order, Gimenez finds himself behind Samu and Andre Silva. While his goal against Academico Viseu in the Portuguese Cup could serve as a turning point, he still faces a significant challenge to secure a starting spot.
If he fails to earn more minutes, AC Milan and Porto may discuss potential changes during the January transfer window. The current loan deal includes an option to buy that could transform into an obligation if specific performance conditions are met.