Mexican striker Santiago Giménez, FC Porto's new signing, was registered as an Italian citizen by the club's administration. The move, which caused confusion among fans, has a practical, administrative explanation.
Giménez, born in Buenos Aires and raised in Mexico, has Italian ancestry and holds five nationalities. Porto chose to use the player's Italian passport to register him with Liga Portugal. This is a common procedure that allows the athlete to bypass the rules and bureaucracy applicable to players from non-European Union countries, speeding up the entire integration process.
Registering Santiago Giménez as an Italian has a direct impact on how quickly the player becomes available for the squad. Without this option, the club would have to comply with specific requirements for non-EU athletes, which can include more lengthy work permit processes. The measure is purely administrative and does not affect the player's sporting identity, as he represents the Mexican national team.
Giménez's official profile on the Liga Portugal website initially reflected this decision, displaying the Italian flag. However, following the attention generated by the news, the page was updated to show the Mexican flag. FC Porto celebrated the forward's arrival on social media. The club's official account posted: "No esperes más... Ele está cá 🤩".
The arrival of Santiago Giménez strengthens an attack that is already performing exceptionally well in this early part of the season. FC Porto leads the Primeira Liga with 12 points, from four wins in four games. The team is in impressive form, with nine goals scored and none conceded, resulting in a +9 goal difference. This advantage puts them two points clear of Sporting CP, their closest challenger.
The competitive context is ideal for integrating a new striker. The squad is confident and manager Sérgio Conceição can now count on another quality option for the forward line. Fans can check the full squad composition on our squad page.
FC Porto returns to action next weekend, on September 12, with a trip to the capital to face Casa Pia. The home team currently sits in 18th place in the league table. This match represents an opportunity for Porto to maintain their unbeaten run and sole leadership of the championship.
Porto supporters can follow all the details of the match schedule on our fixtures page. The team aims to continue its winning streak before the break for international commitments. FC Porto's next fixture is away against Casa Pia on September 12, 2026.
