"Hwang In-beom is very polite to teammates and associates," praised beyond his skills... The entire FC Porto was captivated

*This content was translated by AI.

Korean national team midfielder Hwang In-beom (29) left a strong first impression in his debut match for his new club, FC Porto. It was not just his performance on the pitch. His thorough professional attitude and polite demeanor shown during training sessions earned high praise, winning over the hearts of the entire club.

Portuguese media outlet A Bola, on the 26th (Korean time), featured an article titled "From Olivais to Dragão: The Magic of FC Porto's Newcomer," focusing intensively on Hwang In-beom's match performance and training attitude.

The media reported, "Although Hwang In-beom played for only about 10 minutes, he left Porto fans eager to see more of his play." It added, "He made an excellent first impression with his outstanding professionalism, and his fluent English skills have also had a positive impact."

Porto secured a 2-1 victory in a pre-season home presentation match against Aston Villa held at Estádio do Dragão in Porto, Portugal, on this day.

Hwang In-beom made his debut for Porto. Although it was an unofficial match, he wore the Porto jersey and played alongside teammates in a real-game setting for the first time, also showcasing his play before home fans for the first time.

Hwang In-beom received a passing grade. Not only local Portuguese media but also fans praised his short yet impactful performance. Substituted into the game in the 37th minute of the second half when Porto led 2-1, Hwang moved aggressively and with great enthusiasm. He not only supplied stable passes to teammates but also made an impression by boldly advancing close to the penalty box.

In the 42nd minute of the second half, he even created a decisive scoring opportunity. Following a passing play by Porto, Hwang In-beom received the ball on the right side of the penalty box and immediately connected with a one-touch lobbed pass without hesitation. The ball accurately headed toward Borja Sainz, who was positioned in front of the goal.

Sainz immediately attempted a header shot, but the ball went straight to the opposing goalkeeper. Had it resulted in a goal, Hwang In-beom would have recorded his first assist right away in his debut match. Although the attacking point was lost, the scene was sufficient to confirm Hwang's quick judgment and refined technique.

A Bola stated, "It would have been difficult for Hwang In-beom to leave a better first impression than this at the Dragão's demanding evaluation ground," and added, "He captured the hearts of Porto fans without even having to run around the stadium for a long time."

Continuing, the outlet explained, "Hwang In-beom, who played about 10 minutes including stoppage time, showed that he can be a very useful resource in Portugal's champion tactical system. This also immediately confirmed why coach Francesco Parisoli personally requested Hwang In-beom's signing to the club management led by Chairman André Villas-Boas."

Porto officially announced the signing of Hwang In-beom on the 21st. The contract is for three years until 2029 and includes a one-year extension option. The transfer fee is reported to be around 5 million euros (approximately 8.5 billion won). His jersey number is 16.

It was reported that the young commander Parisoli, born in 1989, played a significant role in Hwang In-beom's move to Porto. Coach Parisoli closely monitored Hwang's performance while leading Ajax, a rival of Feyenoord, during the 2024-2025 season.

It was also reported that he wanted to sign Hwang In-beom even when he was coaching in the Turkish league. At that time, Hwang chose to join Olympiacos, so their connection did not materialize. After taking charge of Porto, Coach Parisoli sought Hwang again and this time succeeded in signing him directly.

Hwang In-beom's post-match interview also became a major topic locally. After finishing his debut match, Hwang honestly said, "I am very happy, but at the same time, I feel a bit regretful." He added, "I think I could have done better in the scene where I connected a cross to Borja Sainz inside the penalty box."

Although Sainz's header did not result in a goal, Hwang In-beom first reflected on his own pass rather than his teammate's finishing. He evaluated that he should have played more accurately even after creating a sufficiently threatening opportunity. Hwang vowed, "I will do better next time."

He expressed gratitude for the warm welcome from home fans. Hwang stated, "The atmosphere in the stadium was truly amazing," and added, "It is an honor to be able to play in such a stadium as a player with such fans." He also added, "I am very happy and proud of myself."

A Bola noted, "These remarks by Hwang In-beom caught the fans' attention," and pointed out that "Porto fans expressed satisfaction with his will to continue developing."

It is reported that Hwang In-beom received good evaluations from his first training session after joining Porto.

The media explained, "The magic of Hwang In-beom, who captivated Porto fans in a short time, had already begun when he first joined the training ground." It added, "According to our investigation, Hwang In-beom left a deep impression on Coach Parisoli's coaching staff, teammates, and FC Porto club officials with his impeccable professional attitude."

It further praised, "The very polite attitude he shows toward colleagues and club officials is another noticeable advantage in daily life."

It also introduced, "Hwang In-beom, approaching his seventh season on the European stage, has already perfectly adapted to the European football environment. As can be seen in the video released by Porto, he also possesses quite fluent English skills."

Furthermore, it reported, "Hwang In-beom's adaptation to the team is progressing quickly without any problems," and added, "It is a situation where both the player himself and Coach Parisoli can smile with satisfaction."

Tactical expectations are also high. Although Porto has many high-level midfielder resources, Hwang In-beom is evaluated as being able to provide abilities different from existing players.

A Bola explained, "When signing Hwang In-beom, Porto knew that he was not a replica of Victor Prohol or other midfielders already possessed by Coach Parisoli." It added, "Hwang In-beom joined to provide abilities different from existing Porto midfielders."

It further evaluated, "Representative skills include the ability to control the game pace in the core areas of the midfield and make ball circulation even smoother."

These advantages appeared immediately during the 10th minutes he played in his debut match. The media once again praised, "Hwang In-beom showed surprisingly quick judgment when in possession of the ball," adding that "he simplified the game with one or two touches while also knowing how to protect the ball and maintain possession when necessary."

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*This content was translated by AI.