Super Eagles forward Terem Moffi has been tipped to surpass Viktor Gyökeres’ impact at Sporting after completing a winter move to FC Porto, with former teammate Mindaugas Grigaravicius offering insight into the striker’s character, development, and capacity to thrive at the highest level.

Moffi joined FC Porto on loan from Nice during the winter transfer window, with the agreement including a purchase option valued at eight million euros, plus 250,000 euros in bonuses.

The move came after a difficult spell in France, where the Nigerian international endured a challenging period that included an incident involving a group of fans targeting players.

Speaking to O Jogo, Grigaravicius, who shared a dressing room with Moffi at Lithuanian side FK Riteriai, recalled the striker’s early struggles following his decision, at just 18 years old, to leave England for Lithuania.

That adaptation phase eventually gave way to a prolific campaign in 2019, when Moffi scored 21 goals in 32 official matches.

“I lived with him for three weeks in a hotel, while the club looked for apartments for the players. I was the one who took him to training, we went for rides in the car and ate together,” Grigaravicius said, describing the striker’s reserved personality.

“He was a shy and quiet boy who didn’t speak at first. He didn’t show his emotions; he seemed like a boy who had come from Africa just chasing his dream of playing football. His first training sessions were terrible.”

According to Grigaravicius, doubts initially surrounded Moffi’s ability to succeed.

“We were discussing amongst ourselves what he had come here to do, he couldn’t fit in or play. He was strong and tall, but he seemed weak, he lost every ball,” he said.

“After a month, we said he had no chance of staying… But he showed us how wrong we were.”

Progress, according to Grigaravicius, only came after Moffi accepted the physical and tactical demands required to succeed and committed himself to additional work away from the spotlight, particularly in the gym and during training sessions. 

Reflecting on that turning point, he said, “He had a complicated adaptation… He had to do extra work, and that’s where the progress began.”

Grigaravicius went on to describe the rapid transformation that followed once Moffi found his rhythm and confidence on the pitch.

“He showed passion, power, a lot of strength… he crushed the defenders, he killed them! He started scoring a lot of goals.”

Looking ahead to Moffi’s new chapter in Portugal, the former Lithuanian international expressed confidence in his success.

“At a big club like FC Porto, there’s no time for adaptation… he will surely be successful,” he said.

“In good form, with everyone’s confidence, he has no limits. He could be better than Gyökeres at Sporting.”