Fabio Vieira criticized by Porto head Coach after being axed from squad

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Porto head coach Vitor Bruno revealed his unhappiness with on-loan Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira after his side’s win over Boavista on Saturday night.

Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira has found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons after Porto head coach Vitor Bruno publicly criticized him following his exclusion from the squad for Porto’s recent match against Boavista. Vieira, who is on loan from Arsenal, was left out of the squad entirely for Porto’s 4-0 victory over Boavista on December 28, 2024.

Bruno revealed that his decision to drop Vieira was not based on his recent performances but rather on other factors related to the player’s daily activities. “I have to make decisions, pay close attention to the players’ performance and how they view their day-to-day activities,” Bruno said after the match. He added, “Fabio is very talented but talent has to be based on a series of pre-conditions. And when one or two of them end up falling apart, it makes everything more difficult.”

Despite the criticism, Bruno emphasized that Vieira remains a key part of his plans and will be available for selection in the upcoming matches. “He has immense potential and I have a large squad that offers me guarantees, I cannot give up on certain principles that are mine,” Bruno stated. “I don’t need to pass on any message. Fabio knows me well and we are counting on him.”

Vieira’s exclusion from the squad has sparked speculation that Arsenal might consider cutting short his loan spell. However, Bruno dismissed these rumors, insisting that Vieira will stay at Porto for the remainder of the season. “For us, talent has to be based on foundations that cannot abandon the condition of an athlete and, when that is lacking, I have to make decisions. Fabio has a lot of talent and will be available next week.”

The situation has put Vieira under additional scrutiny as he continues to adapt to life back at Porto after struggling to make a significant impact during his first two seasons at Arsenal. The coming weeks will be crucial for Vieira as he seeks to regain his place in the squad and prove his worth to both Porto and Arsenal.