Porto have been warned they will already be struggling to keep their latest prodigy just weeks after his signing.
The Portuguese giants have been active in the winter market, signing 41-year-old Thiago Silva and a player 24 years younger.
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Silva signed a six-month contract with the option of a further year at Porto, days after him has officially left Brazilian club Fluminense.
The experienced defender’s first time with “Tricolor” ended in 2008 with his move to AC Milan, the same year that Oskar Pietuszewski was born.
17 years later, the pair made their league debut for Porto on Sunday in a 1-0 win against Vitória Guimarães and each left an impression.
Silva played the entire 90 minutes and kept a clean sheet, but Pietuszewski grabbed the headlines with a stunning cameo.
European football expert Andy Brassell admitted he was “really impressed” in a glowing review of the teenage winger’s debut.
“You see him coming over just before Christmas, 17 years old, he’s from Poland, and you think: ‘Okay, one for the future, here we go’,” he told The Pitch Prospect.com.
“Then he comes on as a substitute in the second part of the second half, away at Guimarães, perhaps the most difficult game Porto has had this season.”
“Pietuszewski comes, has never played for them before, is only 17, and changes the game.”
“The way he extends the play, the way he plays on the left side, the way he dribbles, the way he attacks players, the way he actually enforces his defensive work when he doesn’t have the ball.”
“What planet is this child from? It’s truly amazing.”
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Pietuszewski’s brilliant debut
The Poland U21 international joined compatriots and former Premier League stars Jan Bednarek and Jakub Kiwior upon his arrival in Porto.
Against Guimarães he came into the game scoreless after 73 minutes and scored a penalty, which Alan Varela converted into the winning goal.
Pietuszewski then ensured the home side were reduced to ten men late on after sliding past Telmo Arcanjo, who fouled him and was sent off.
“From the moment he arrived he seemed super confident,” Brassell continued to SPORT.
“Part of it is that he already has excellent English skills, so he can communicate with anyone in Portugal from day one, which is really helpful.”
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“It will already be difficult to hold on to it”
“But it’s interesting because you think Francesco Farioli, like his growing reputation, is such a winning coach, he really was at Ajax.”
“His attitude, Farioli, is that if you’re good enough, you just play and that’s all. And.” [Pietuszewski’s] made a huge first impression.”
Earlier this month, Pietuszewski signed a three-year contract with Porto until January 2029 with a €60m (£52m) release clause.
Brassell admitted: “I think depending on how much he contributes between now and the end of the season, it will feel difficult to keep Pietuszewski because he looks so good already.”
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Pietuszewski transfer news
Porto’s 77 immediately caught the eye of his new manager when he made his first-team debut for local club Jagiellonia aged just 16.
Pietuszewski came on as a substitute in a 3-0 away defeat against Fariolis Ajax in the second leg of the 2024 Europa League playoff round.
That connection may have played a role in the Polish star spurning interest from the Premier League giants in a move to Porto.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City reportedly sent senior scouts to watch Pietuszewski in action earlier this season.
Pietuszewski, who scored seven goals and two assists in the first half of the 2025/26 season, has also been linked with Barcelona.
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Purchase from the Portuguese League
English clubs are no strangers to buying young players in the Portuguese league, although with mixed results.
Vitinha and Fabio Silva have both struggled to settle at Wolves and Enzo Fernández is still trying to justify his £100m price tag.
However, Brassell argued: “Some players are convincing right away. I’m just making a cameo appearance in a game.”
“I’m just blown away by it. I have no idea what it’s going to be worth.”
“All I know is that it is as good as starts can get and what also has to be said is that Porto, Sporting and Benfica are really, really good at marketing players and getting the most out of it.”