39 players! Rui Borges has big calls at Sporting, not all stay | OneFootball

Sporting began preparations for the 2026/27 season this Wednesday, on a day that coincided with the celebrations of the Club’s 120th anniversary. Rui Borges led the first training sessions at the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy, where he welcomed a large group of players including new signings, first-team members, and youth academy prospects.

The Sporting coach had 29 players with him on this first day, which was devoted to the usual medical exams, fitness tests, and a first session on the pitch. All things considered, between the players already present, the internationals allowed to report later, and those still involved in the Club World Cup, Rui Borges currently has 39 options for the start of the new season, a number that is expected to drop in the coming weeks with transfer market movement.

Of the five signings secured for 2026/27, only Rodrigo Zalazar was not present, as he is still on holiday after taking part in the Club World Cup. Sergi Altimira, Issa Doumbia, Silas Andersen, and Pedro Lima, meanwhile, had their first contact with the Academy and officially began their adventure wearing the lion on their chest.

Among the more experienced players, Pedro Gonçalves and Daniel Bragança reported as normal, despite the doubts that still surround their respective futures. On the other hand, Morten Hjulmand, Giorgi Kochorashvili, and Georgios Vagiannidis have permission to return later, while Francisco Trincão, Rui Silva, Gonçalo Inácio, and Luis Suárez remain with their national teams at the Club World Cup. Ousmane Diomande, Maxi Araújo, and Rodrigo Zalazar, already eliminated from the competition, will also join the group in the coming days.

The academy also once again played a prominent role at the start of Sporting’s pre-season. Salvador Blopa, Rafael Nel, and Flávio Gonçalves, already tipped for the main squad, once again earned Rui Borges’ trust, alongside Francisco Silva, Guilherme Pires, Rodrigo Dias, Miguel Alves, Bruno Ramos, Rafael Mota, Mauro Couto, and Eduardo Felicíssimo. Among them, Bruno Ramos appears to be one of the youngsters best placed to secure a permanent spot in the first team, especially given the absence of several centre-backs due to the Club World Cup.

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