Cardoso Varela

In July 2026, the player's transfer from Dinamo Zagreb to FC Porto was reported as a free transfer, but with Dinamo entitled to 50% of a future sale. Porto can reportedly pay €2 million to reduce that share to 25%. A new €50 million release clause was also included in his Porto contract. Prior to this move, reports between March and May 2026 consistently mentioned a release clause of around €5 million in his Dinamo contract, which FC Barcelona was rumoured to be considering. A transfer to Barcelona was also reportedly agreed for €25 million in November 2025, though this deal did not proceed. His Transfermarkt value was cited as €1 million in December 2025. Earlier, in July 2024, his agents reportedly demanded €3 million for him to remain at Porto.

Our valuation is primarily driven by the structure of Cardoso Varela's July 2026 transfer to FC Porto. While no upfront fee was paid, the deal includes an option for Porto to pay €2 million to reduce Dinamo Zagreb's sell-on clause from 50% to 25%, implying a future transfer valuation of at least €8 million. This is supported by the player's widely reported €5 million release clause at Dinamo prior to the move and a much higher, though unmaterialized, reported agreement with FC Barcelona for €25 million in late 2025.