New Sporting signing has Ballon d'Or in his sights: I'd sign now | OneFootball

Sergi Altimira arrived at Sporting in a summer marked by Morten Hjulmand’s departure to Atlético Madrid and does not shy away from the responsibility of filling the void left by the former captain. The Spanish midfielder says he is fully aware of the scale of the challenge he has found at Alvalade.

In an interview with Rádio Marca on the program ‘Marcador Internacional’, Altimira spoke precisely about succeeding the Dane. “All teams have important players, and then others come in and try to replace them. I know where I am and what they expect from me,” said the 24-year-old footballer.

The midfielder also recalled the path he took to reach Sporting, after having played for Betis. “I had to work really hard, I played in the Segunda División B and gradually moved up. Then at Betis I felt I needed to leave so I could keep developing,” he explained.

Asked about his main references for the position, Sergi Altimira pointed to Rodri. “He often goes unnoticed, but he does an incredible job. He has tremendous tactical intelligence,” the Sporting player said of his compatriot.

Altimira also allowed himself to dream big when asked about the possibility of one day returning to Spain with a Ballon d’Or. “Why not?! We’d sign for a Ballon d’Or right away,” replied the midfielder, who is looking to establish himself as one of the standout figures in Rui Borges’ new-look midfield.

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