"At this time, I think we are paying 5% interest on over 500 ME. That is, every year we have to pay around 25 ME to pay this interest rate. How do you restructure the debt? By increasing the terms and trying to achieve lower interest rates with the entities to which FC Porto owes money. That is the only way, and for now, the initial step that has to be taken. Then, there is also the possibility of amortizing the debts, which is very relevant. Accurate accounts always bring the possibility of other investors appearing", said the businessman and professor, in an interview with the Lusa agency.

Nuno Lobo wants to request an audit of the SAD's accounts if he is elected as the successor to Pinto da Costa, president of FC Porto and a candidate for a 16th consecutive term, whose administration has announced some structuring deals in recent months.

"If we had not gone to get Otávio Ataíde or renewed the contract with Galeno, then we would not have done anything? There are situations that cannot be postponed. Regarding the accounts, the only people who can know are on the board. For now, I'm not getting into that", he said, concerned about the effects of an expected absence from the next Champions League.

The 54-year-old businessman aims to reduce liabilities, cover accumulated losses and reverse negative equity through relevant positive results, proposing as solutions a structure with lower salary costs and limited bonuses, extended termination clauses and early renewals, which prevent the exit of assets at zero cost.

"When I think that there are clubs that manage to sell players for 120 ME... If FC Porto makes a sale of that amount every year, there are great possibilities of reducing the liabilities. We have to value the assets and have a very strong commitment to training. We cannot forget that the training served to cover the holes that have emerged over the last few years, to fill that lack of money and honor the commitments", he stressed.

The sale of the naming rights to Estádio do Dragão, the Dragão Arena pavilion, the Olival training center or Campo da Constituição will help attract investments for FC Porto, whose brand can capitalize on an expansionist vision of 'merchandising' or offering a technologically modern experience to the public in various venues.

"Centralization of audiovisual rights? FC Porto has to find a way not to fall behind its competitors. This revenue is extremely important for its sustainability. There is a club [Benfica] that owns [the sale] of the games played in its stadium... It is necessary to have mechanisms so that there is more investment and the rights revert in favor of FC Porto", he warned, about a process that will be concluded in the I and II Leagues until 2028/29.

Nuno Lobo added 50 measures to the 250 launched in 2020, when he was defeated by Pinto da Costa in the elections, wanting to reach 300,000 full members within a maximum period of five years and promote a self-sustainable eclecticism, which institutes women's football and futsal and encourages the inclusion of a pavilion for the sports in the academy project.

"I think about the growth of futsal: FC Porto will win with television rights, sponsorship and everything that the club's portfolio represents. If you asked the members if they wanted this sport, we would certainly have Dragão Arena more composed more often than we do now", he said, showing himself available to sign the entry into paddle tennis and tennis or evaluate the viability of projects in cycling and volleyball.

Read Also: Pinto da Costa: "Financial fair play was the bugbear of the other candidacy" (Portuguese version)