Just a few years after leaving Ibrox, former Rangers player Fabio Cardoso is sitting top of the Primeira Liga with Porto.
Pedro Caixinha brought Cardoso to Rangers from Vitoria Setubal in the summer of 2017 but he didn’t manage to live up to expectations.
After just one season and 18 appearances for the club, he was allowed to head back to Portugal to join Santa Clara.
The centre-back rebuilt his reputation in the Azores and in the summer, he got a big move to Porto, signing a five-year contract [Publico].
After some early-season struggles, the 27-year-old has been playing much more regularly in recent times, featuring in ten of the Dragons’ last 12 league matches.
Sergio Conceicao’s side are on a remarkable run, winning 17 of their last 18 league fixtures and drawing the other.
Ex-Rangers defender Cardoso kicking on at Porto
Cardoso has played his part in that run and Porto are now favourites to win back the title from Sporting CP, who are six points behind them in second with 23 games played.
A move to a big European club has also got the former Ger back playing in UEFA club competitions.
He featured twice in Porto’s Champions League group stage campaign, while he was on the bench last week when they beat Lazio 2-1 at home in the first leg of their Europa League knockout round playoff tie.
Porto are also only two victories away from winning the Taca de Portugal, with Cardoso an ever-present so far in that competition.
After a slow start, then, the big move is working out for the former Ger, who is beginning to fulfil his considerable potential.
Meanwhile, a midfielder who left Rangers in January scored in a six-goal thriller against Celtic B on Tuesday afternoon.
