The 'dragons' were the only ones to submit a purchase intention for the land in question, located in the areas of Nogueira and Silva Escura, in the Metropolitan Park, through a sealed bid, in a public auction held at the Maia local authority. The Portista SAD was represented by the chairman Pinto da Costa and the director Fernando Gomes, who attended the opening of the proposal, which was accompanied and marked by a cheque for 680 thousand euros, corresponding to 20% of the total value of the offer. The Maia City Council's Bid Opening Committee validated all the assumptions of FC Porto's purchase intention, but the deal will only be definitively awarded when it is ratified shortly by the city executive, which has to authorise the sale of the land. After this step, FC Porto will have to pay another 15% of the total value [3.4 million euros], with the remainder to be paid when the purchase and sale contract is signed. Pinto do Costa, who made a point of being present at a moment he considered "historic", guaranteed that the construction works of the new academy in Maia will start this week or next week. "The land clearing works are already being carried out, but, with the presence of archaeologists, we thought of starting the construction works this week", said the chairman of FC Porto. The director recalled that this was a process that has been going on for the last two years, but pointed out that "the dream has finally come true, giving rise to an academy that will make all Porto fans proud". "From now on, and definitively, there can be no doubts. Those who said that this project was a utopia and a stream of lies, now, if they had any dignity, would just have to apologise for what they said", said Pinto da Costa. The chairman of FC Porto spoke of a work "fundamental for the growth of the club's teams", describing that the complex will have three football fields, a mini stadium for two thousand people, which can host official matches, a dining room, a hotel and a medical centre. "It is a very important step, but, despite having space difficulties for our training, we have managed to present players who today play in our A and B teams. Our rivals have more advanced conditions, but, from now on, we will have conditions to accommodate 140 athletes simultaneously. The children and young people who want to be at FC Porto will have excellent conditions to study, train and play at our club", he concluded. These 14 hectares acquired from the Maia City Council for the construction of the academy, join another nine that the club had already secured, leaving the complex with a total area of 23 hectares for the club to develop. Pinto da Costa, who is serving his 15th consecutive term as chairman of FC Porto, a position he has held since 1982, is the leader of List A for the club's next elections, running against the club's former coach André Villas-Boas (List B) and Nuno Lobo (List C), who was defeated in the 2020 vote. The elections of FC Porto's social bodies will take place on 27 April, between 09:00 and 20:00, at the Estádio do Dragão, in Porto.