Newcastle United have been doing some transfer groundwork at the weekend.
It was a historic night in Leiria, Portugal, as an ‘alternative’ local derby ended up deciding a major domestic trophy.
Only for the third time in the past 20 years, none of the traditional “big three” – Sporting, Benfica or Porto – featured in a Taça da Liga final, as Vitória SC edged past Braga with a 2-1 win.
And according to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, Newcastle United had scouts in the stands for the occasion. The final offered a useful setting to watch players dealing with pressure, momentum swings and decisive moments.
The Magpies were in good company, with scouts for clubs including Barcelona and Marseille also in attendance.
Vitória midfield in spotlight as Newcastle United watched
Much of the attention around Vitória’s performance fell on their midfield pairing. Miguel Nogueira, 20, and Diogo Sousa, 19, started together as a double pivot in a demanding final.
Given their ages, that may be where the Newcastle United interest is.
Despite their age, both played with maturity. They stayed disciplined, read danger well and helped Vitória ride out difficult spells, which stood out given the stage.
But that youthful base was backed up by experience. Samu Silva, 29, came on after half-time and changed the tone of the game. He scored from the penalty spot and later set up striker Alioune Ndoye, 24, for the winning goal late on.
Far at the back, goalkeeper Charles, 31, produced the moment that decided the night, saving a stoppage-time penalty.
Braga positives, but a costly moment
For Braga, Mario Dorgeles, 21, was one of the standout performers. The wing-back opened the scoring with a direct free-kick and showed flexibility throughout, supporting attacks while still tracking back.
In midfield, Beni Mukendi, 23, also impressed, bringing composure and making important interventions during a difficult first half.
The final moment, however, went against Braga. Rodrigo Zalazar, 26, seen as the team’s main creative force, stepped up for a crucial late penalty. Charles denied him, and the miss proved decisive.
Newcastle United have watched Braga closely for years. They followed Roger Fernandes from 2022 until he moved to Al-Ittihad in September 2025.
