“I would like to have by my side António Henriques – Joana’s godfather –, Pedro Pinho, Quintanilha, Fernando Póvoas, Luís Gonçalves, António Oliveira, Hugo Santos, Sandra Madureira, Fernando Madureira, Caetano and Marcos Poland”, stated Pinto da Costa.
From the list of people linked to the world of football, the names of Fernando and Sandra Madureira stand out. For two decades, the couple led the Super Dragões, FC Porto‘s main fans. Both are defendants in Operation Praetorian and are accused of creating an atmosphere of intimidation and fear among other Porto members – which culminated in attacks at a General Assembly of the club. For the Public Ministry, the main objective was to crush Pinto da Costa’s internal opposition and prevent the election of André Villas-Boas.
Cover of the new book by Pinto da Costa DR
“They were people who have always been faithful to me and are suffering what they are suffering because they are my friends”, explains Pinto da Costa. Fernando Madureira has been in preventive detention since January 31, but the former Porto president remains hopeful that the former Super Dragões leader will be released and cleared of the 31 crimes he is accused of.
Blue Until the End is the fifth work signed by Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, in a list that also includes a photobiography published in December 2022. Of this set, it is the first book he writes outside the sphere of FC Porto, after 42 years in the presidency of the Porto fans.
Not much is known yet about what we might find in the work, with the publisher and author maintaining a certain mystery about the book’s contents. Still, it is expected that the former manager will approach the last few months leading FC Porto, abruptly interrupted by a crushing defeat to André Villas-Boas, former coach of the “blue and whites”.
The book presentation is scheduled for 4pm on Sunday, October 27th, at the Alfândega do Porto Congress Center. The ceremony has limited capacity and will feature an autograph session. Although those present will already be able to purchase the book during this event with the presence of Pinto da Costa, it will only be available on Monday, October 28th.
