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 โฌ35 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 wasnโt 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 seasonโs champions Benfica and having already beaten them once.
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.ย In 2011 he left for Atletico Madrid as well, leaving a hole up front that many believed would be impossible to fill, yet Martinezโs 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 Portoโs 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. 9โs exit. Now itโs his time to shine; Heโs been given the starting role at the tip of a flexible formation and asked to lead the way with his goals.
The Indomitable Lionsโ 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.ย 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 Etoโoโs 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.
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 โฌ3 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: Theyโre of different build, different style and different nationality. Portoโs streak of Colombian hitmen is over, but that wonโt 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.
Now heโs the main man, and heโs 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. Itโs made for a deadly cocktail; Aboubakar whirlwinds toward defenders at great speed, but now heโs in full control of his actions and has learnt to get his head up before he runs out of room to work with.
Physically heโs a beast: Just over 6โ 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.
One of Lopeteguiโs 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 goalโTelloโs finishing has come on nicely since leaving Barcelonaโbut it was, admittedly, a bit predictable.
Martinez canโt out-pace anyone; heโs not quick, and heโs 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. Heโs 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.
Aboubakarโs energetic movements and runs create room for others, too, and Ruben Nevesโnow a full-time starter in holding midfield post-Casemiroโhas 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. Heโs 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 wonโt get more than three years out of the Cameroonian if he continues this steep trajectory towards stardom, and, in factย brought in Alberto Bueno this summer as a rotational option after he put together a fine season at Rayo Vallecanoโthatโs 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.
.jpg?w=2560)
.jpg?w=2560 "Brissett Linked to Ravens ๐")
