Leonino exclusive - Fotis Ioannidis haunts Sporting | OneFootball

Fotis Ioannidis’ ongoing physical limitations are increasing concern within Sporting’s hierarchy, Leonino has learned. The Greek striker is still yet to play a single minute in this pre-season, having last featured in February due to knee problems.

The situation is being closely monitored by the club’s officials, who are not ruling out moving for another centre-forward in this transfer window if there are doubts over the player’s physical condition.

According to what our newspaper has learned, the possibility of signing another striker is on the table and could gain momentum in the coming weeks. Sporting’s SAD wants to cover all possibilities before the official start of the season and does not want to become overly reliant on a single striker to lead the line in all competitions.

The priority is to avoid overburdening Luis Suárez throughout the season. The Colombian was the main attacking reference in 2025/26, and there is a belief that it would be risky to demand his constant presence without an alternative capable of sharing minutes and responsibilities in what promises to be a demanding schedule.

In the 2025/26 season, wearing the Sporting shirt, Fotis Ioannidis – valued at €16 million – made 22 appearances. The Greek international striker played 944 minutes, scoring six goals and providing three assists in the green-and-white hoops.

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