Leonino exclusive: Virgílio Lopes warns Sporting to offload players | OneFootball

Virgílio Lopes believes that the likely departures of Morten Hjulmand and Francisco Trincão are part of the end of a cycle at Sporting, he told our newspaper. In this Leonino Exclusive, the former right-back analysed the lions’ summer transfer market and assessed the new badge of the Alvalade club.

“Signings can only be assessed once they are playing. But, at first glance, they seem good. There is no one who signs players without watching them many times and gathering information, with every expectation that it will be a good signing. However, many times, even after taking these precautions, things do not go well. So, it remains to be seen how they will perform when the season starts,” he began by telling our newspaper.

Morten Hjulmand has already reached a personal agreement with Atlético Madrid and could be on his way to the colchoneros. The former general director of youth development at the lions says Sporting must protect its interests and that it would not be beneficial for the captain to stay. “I think the club will negotiate what it can. Sporting’s situation is not easy because, with the signings it made, it assumed Hjulmand was leaving. So, it really would not be convenient for him to stay. The last thing Sporting want is for him to stay. If we are a little patient, I think either Atlético Madrid or any other club will pay those 40 million euros”, he said.

The departure of Francisco Trincão for Al Ahli is also a realistic scenario. Virgílio Lopes argues that it is part of the lions’ new cycle. “50 million? It is a good amount, let’s see whether he leaves or not. Sporting are, apparently, assuming that this is the end of a cycle. If that is the case, Sporting really do have to get rid of some players”, he opined.

To conclude, the former Sporting player greatly appreciated the club’s new badge. “I loved it! The badge is almost the same as the one I wore. Anyone who wore that badge, when they saw the new one, was absolutely delighted because it brings back what we lived through. I think it is almost unanimous that everyone really liked the badge,” he concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.