Gimenez Cites Maniche and Falcao as Childhood Ties to Porto
Santiago Gimenez, recently presented by Porto, revealed that former Porto players Maniche and Radamel Falcao were his early football idols. He recounted receiving a Maniche shirt as a child and later swapping jerseys with Falcao. The Mexican striker could debut in the Portuguese league this Friday or in the Champions League against Manchester City on September 8.
Gimenez arrived in Porto from AC Milan, where he had been coached by Sergio Conceicao, a former Porto player and manager. The Mexican striker inherits a club in formidable form, having won all four league matches this season with nine goals scored and none conceded. Porto's perfect start sets up a potentially seamless integration for the new signing.
The 23-year-old's connection to Porto runs through multiple Mexican predecessors, including Hector Herrera, who captained the club, along with Miguel Layun, Tecatito Corona, and Diego Reyes. Gimenez also noted that Maniche recently contacted him directly, deepening the sense of destiny he feels about this move. His debut could arrive Friday against Moreirense or in the Champions League against Manchester City on September 8.
This signing may strengthen ties between Mexican football and European clubs, potentially inspiring young Mexican players to pursue careers abroad. Gimenez's high-profile move to a Champions League side could also boost Porto's commercial appeal in Latin American markets, while his performances against elite opponents like Manchester City may raise his international profile ahead of future national team commitments.