According to A Bola, Cardoso Varela's transfer to FC Porto is awaiting clearance from FIFA regarding a process related to his registration. The young winger was acquired from Dinamo Zagreb. The report states that FC Porto has completed all necessary procedures in coordination with the player's legal representative and has submitted the process to FIFA, with the final validation pending.

Porto's president, André Villas-Boas, stated that the transfer of Cardoso Varela, a 17-year-old Portuguese winger, to an amateur club in Croatia was planned to enable a quick subsequent transfer to another top club, likely in one of the top five leagues. Villas-Boas said this could still happen. As a Portugal U17 international, Varela joined GNK Dinamo Zagreb in July 2025 under a contract lasting until 2028, and he has been linked with FC Barcelona. Reports in early 2026 mentioned a €5 million clause in his contract, and a report from November 2025 claimed an agreement had been reached for a transfer to FC Barcelona for a fee of €25 million.