It has been confirmed to Index that Cardoso Varela is leaving Dinamo and returning to Porto. Varela wanted to return to the club where he began his career. The transfer does not involve a fee, but Dinamo will have the right to 50% of the fee from his subsequent transfer. A previous complication for the return to Porto was the relationship between his manager Bara and the Portuguese club. At the end of May, Porto president Andre Villas-Boas stated that Porto had no interest in Varela and that the player's future was not with the club. Varela was transferred to Dinamo at the beginning of 2025 after he left Porto's academy, and he had a contract with Dinamo until the summer of 2028.

There are claims of a potential transfer of Cardoso Varela. Porto had previously challenged the circumstances of Varela's arrival at Dinamo, accusing Andy Bara and Dinamo of 'kidnapping', but all legal instances ruled in favor of Dinamo and the managers. A clause of five million euros was made public, which is the amount for which Varela can leave Dinamo, with 57 percent going to the club and 43 percent to Varela and his people. Porto's president, Villas-Boas, invited Varela to return and stated that Varela can still get a chance at Porto because he will never get one at Dinamo. It is also mentioned that Pini Zahavi, who currently represents Varela, has had very close cooperation with Porto over the years in various ways.

Porto is negotiating for the return of 17-year-old winger Cardoso Varela, who is reportedly not satisfied at Dinamo Zagreb. Andre Villas-Boas has set two conditions for the deal, requiring no transfer fee and for Varela to initially join the B team. The player is under contract until 2028 with a release clause of around five million euros, but it is suggested a solution might be found.