Out since February, injured Sporting player wants to earn a start | OneFootball

Fotis Ioannidis is determined to put behind him his difficult first season at Sporting. The Greek forward is using the holiday period to recover physically and mentally, believing he will arrive at pre-season in top condition to show the quality that led the Lions to invest in his signing.

His debut season at Alvalade was marked by successive physical problems. The striker suffered a ligament injury in his right knee in November, returned to competition in December, felt discomfort again in January and suffered another setback in February. Although surgery was considered, the procedure ultimately did not go ahead.

In total, Ioannidis played 27 matches for the green and whites, recording six goals and three assists in 1,248 minutes. Numbers below the expectations surrounding the Greek international, who nevertheless continues to enjoy the confidence of the club’s hierarchy and has a contract valid for another four seasons.

The new season, however, could begin with a favorable scenario for the forward. Luis Suárez, the great star of Sporting’s attack in 2025/26 and winner of the Silver Ball with 28 goals in the league, will be absent at the start of preparations due to Colombia’s participation in the 2026 World Cup. That absence opens the door for Ioannidis to earn minutes and impress the coaching staff.

At Alvalade, there is a belief that the Greek still has a lot to offer. Free from the physical limitations that held him back in recent months, Ioannidis is preparing for a true fresh start at Sporting. Pre-season is approaching and, for the forward, it could represent the perfect opportunity to relaunch his career wearing the lion on his chest and fight for a starting place in attack.

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