Vincent Aboubakar's Rise Helping FC Porto Get over Jackson Martinez Exit

Many in England, Italy and France watched enviously as Atletico Madrid unveiled Jackson Martinez as their new star signing this summer. Activating a €35 million release clause, Diego Simeone stole in ahead of AC Milan to complete the deal announcing the Colombian as a replacement for Juventus-bound Mario Mandzukic.

Away from the Iberian peninsula questions abounded: How would FC Porto replace a man who scored 31, 29 and 32 goals in his respective three seasons at the club, per Transfermarkt, be replaced? How could a club of this standing cope with losing such a piece?

Those asking the questions forget the identity of Porto, and how they have come to survive all these years despite being gutted every summer in succession.

The club are famously good at manipulating the transfer market in order to find low-cost replacements for their pricey outbound stars; They scour South and Central America for pre-eminent talents and gamble on them in bulk.

Martinez wasn’t the only key man to depart the Dragao this summer; Alex Sandro, Danilo and Ricardo Quaresma all left, while loans for Oliver Torres (Atletico) and Casemiro (Real Madrid) expired.

Regardless, they sit top of Liga NOS after six games, two clear of last season’s champions Benfica and having already beaten them once.

Alvaro Barrientos/Associated Press

Martinez was the man sourced as a replacement for Radamel Falcao, who once upon a time scored rather frequently in a blue-and-white-striped kit. In 2011 he left for Atletico Madrid as well, leaving a hole up front that many believed would be impossible to fill, yet Martinez’s 92 goals easily managed it.

Yes, the Dragons failed to haul in the Liga title these past two seasons, but a lack of goals was most certainly not the issue.

With Martinez gone, Julen Lopetegui had no qualms in turning to Porto’s newest, freshest striking star: Vincent Aboubakar.

The Cameroon international actually signed in 2014 just after the FIFA World Cup, but was stashed for a year likely in anticipation of their main No. 9’s exit. Now it’s his time to shine; He’s been given the starting role at the tip of a flexible formation and asked to lead the way with his goals.

The Indomitable Lions’ World Cup was a full-blown disaster. Cameroon as a team collapsed inward, put in an atrocious performance in the first game against Mexico and were then dragged down due to in-fighting. Alex Song, their star man, was red carded for elbowing Mandzukic during the pivotal Croatia game, and manager Volker Finke could only rest his head in his hands, wondering how it had all gone so wrong.

One bright spot, though, was Aboubakar. A rapid, direct presence up front, he cut an isolated figured due to Samuel Eto’o’s shortcomings in the No. 10 position but pressed on regardless. Ridiculously agile with great top-end speed, he pierced the channels between the left-back and left-centre-back, hitting the byline frequently to stretch the formation.

Credit: Sky Sport

Technically speaking he was pretty untidy, but at 22 years of age at the time and with limited experience on such a stage, that was forgivable.

The Portuguese club saw raw potential and physical dominance priced at just €3 million, and quickly pulled the trigger on a deal that could pay for itself 10 times over in three years. So far, Aboubakar has panned out perfectly.

He is an entirely different striker to Martinez in many ways: They’re of different build, different style and different nationality. Porto’s streak of Colombian hitmen is over, but that won’t concern fans so long as the new man does the damage.

Content with a bit-part role in 2014-15, playing second fiddle to Martinez, Aboubakar impressed when given the chance and notched a few goals to keep himself relevant.

When the Colombian went down injured during the latter parts of the campaign, his understudy kept FC Porto afloat in the title race and prevented a relative crisis at a key time.

Credit: Sky Sport

Now he’s the main man, and he’s relishing the role. His feet have been tidied up by good coaching, but the directness and burst he has in his locker have been kept. It’s made for a deadly cocktail; Aboubakar whirlwinds toward defenders at great speed, but now he’s in full control of his actions and has learnt to get his head up before he runs out of room to work with.

Physically he’s a beast: Just over 6’ tall and built thick with muscle, he can act as an orthodox target man, a drop-in link player, an on-the-shoulder No. 9 or a crossing magnet.

His sweet headed finishes and penalty-box presence give Porto the same threat they had last season with Martinez, but Aboubakar is a superior athlete and adds an extra edge to the game plan.

Credit: Sport TV

One of Lopetegui’s most dangerous moves last season was releasing Cristian Tello (RW) over the top of a defence via a Martinez flick-on. When it worked it resulted in a goal—Tello’s finishing has come on nicely since leaving Barcelona—but it was, admittedly, a bit predictable.

Martinez can’t out-pace anyone; he’s not quick, and he’s not fast. Aboubakar can provide the same touch, but he can also make the run and finish himself.

Ultimately, Porto show greater urgency and move the ball more quickly with Aboubakar in the line-up. He’s a high-octane performer, playing at 100 m.p.h. at all times, and that tempo is infectious; it seeps into his colleagues and encourages them to get the ball forward more quickly.

Credit: Sport TV

Aboubakar’s energetic movements and runs create room for others, too, and Ruben Neves—now a full-time starter in holding midfield post-Casemiro—has up to three targets when aiming his trademark cross-field passes.

Aboubakar also developed more of a playmaking side, clearly intent on fulfilling the role of a complete striker, and has flashed the ability to slide a runner in behind the defence with a well-weighted, well-angled pass. He’s by no means the finished article in this area, but the vast improvement compared to June 2014 is clear to see.

For a club like Porto, a discussion regarding one of their star players inevitably whittles down to one key factor: How much will he sell for?

Lopetegui will understand he won’t get more than three years out of the Cameroonian if he continues this steep trajectory towards stardom, and, in fact  brought in Alberto Bueno this summer as a rotational option after he put together a fine season at Rayo Vallecano—that’s an insurance policy right there.

But for now, in the short term, the Estadio do Dragao can bask in the glow of a new striking hero with a different, more-exciting playing style to the one before.

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