Francisco Conceição (23, Juventus) has captured the heart of Juventus. Eventually, the club paid his buyout clause in full to secure his transfer.
The Portuguese newspaper Record exclusively reported on the 20th (Korea time), "Juventus confirmed the complete acquisition by paying Francisco Conceição's buyout of 30 million euros (approximately 47.3 billion won)."
This clause can be activated until July 15th, after which it will be adjusted to 45 million euros (approximately 71.1 billion won). Juventus executed the transfer immediately after observing his performance at the Club World Cup before the expiration of this clause.
Francisco Conceição, the son of Sérgio Conceição, is a left-footed winger known for his speed and agile dribbling, excelling in breaking through on the flanks. During counterattacks, he breaks along the touchline, and in build-up play, he cuts inside to attempt left-footed crosses or shots.
He does utilize his right foot to some extent, but overall, he is heavily reliant on his left foot, and the accuracy of his kicks is inconsistent. His dribbling patterns are simple, making him easily readable by opposing defenses, and there are also issues with tempo control and limited vision. In leagues like Serie A, where defensive lines are lower, he tends to get isolated, diminishing his impact. He lacks aggression in defensive participation and pressing, and due to physical disadvantages, he appears weak in contested situations.
The turning point for this evaluation was his recent performance. Conceição displayed dazzling skills in the FIFA Club World Cup Group G match against Al Ain, where Yong-woo Park started. He scored two goals in this match, leading Juventus to a 5-0 victory, and throughout the game, he troubled the opposing defense with explosive dribbling and penetrating runs.
Notably, in the 21st minute of the first half, he shook the net with a powerful left-footed shot after beating the Al Ain defense multiple times, and in the 58th minute, he wrapped up an attack he initiated himself from the right flank, completing a multi-goal performance. This match was the occasion for Juventus to finally confirm Conceição's potential on the competitive stage, and the club solidified its decision in just one game.
Record noted, "There were approaches from Saudi Arabian clubs for Conceição, but the player wanted to join Juventus and rejected all offers." Juventus has secured a long-term investment through this acquisition, signing Conceição to a five-year contract. His salary is set at 6 million euros (approximately 9.5 billion won), which is six times the 1 million euros he earned during his time at FC Porto.
Conceição will also receive a portion of the profits from this transfer. When FC Porto re-signed him from AFC Ajax (in the summer of 2023), Conceição contracted with the club to receive 20% of the transfer fee in the event of a future transfer. As a result, upon the successful transfer to Juventus, the player will receive approximately 600,000 euros.
Francisco Conceição is a typical "crack-type winger" who developed under the guidance of his father, manager Sérgio Conceição. His performances during his time at Porto and at the Club World Cup perfectly align with Juventus's current goals of "generational change" and "offensive transition."
Currently, Juventus is rebuilding its front line with young resources like Randal Kolo Muani and Kenan Yıldız. Conceição's joining not only adds tactical diversity but also complements the depth of winger resources while enhancing speed.
[OSEN]