Applauded or booed? Rafael Leão divides Sporting fans | OneFootball

Rafael Leão is back at Alvalade tonight to face Sporting while on duty with Galatasaray. A return to the club where he came through the ranks could have been marked by the affection of the Sporting fans for one of the Academy’s products, but there is a wound from the past that could lead part of the stands to greet the Portugal international with whistles.

The controversy dates back to the 2017/18 season, when Leão, then regarded as one of the brightest prospects to come out of Sporting’s academy, began to establish himself in the first team and even scored at the Estádio do Dragão against Porto. Everything changed, however, after the attack on the Alcochete Academy in May 2018. A few weeks later, the forward moved to terminate his contract unilaterally with just cause, like several other players in the squad.

For some Sporting supporters, his departure became associated with the idea that the player abandoned the club during one of the most difficult periods in its history. After terminating his contract, Leão signed for Lille, while Sporting, then under the interim leadership of Sousa Cintra, argued that the departure had not been legitimate and filed a complaint with FIFA, seeking compensation of €45 million, corresponding to the value of his release clause.

The case eventually reached the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which in 2020 concluded that Rafael Leão had terminated his contract without just cause and ordered him to pay Sporting €16.5 million. The player appealed the decision, but without success. The process ended in June 2023, when Lille paid the Lions €19.67 million, an amount that included the €16.5 million owed, interest, and costs, thus falling short of the €45 million initially claimed by the Alvalade club.

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