Rui Borges has made a final call on two Sporting cases | OneFootball

Flávio Gonçalves and Rafael Nel secured permanent places in Sporting’s main squad for the 2026/27 season. Of the eight academy youngsters called up by Rui Borges for the pre-season training camp in Lagos, only the attacking duo survived the final cut.

According to the newspaper A Bola, the presence of both players among the 30 footballers presented to the fans at the Cinco Violinos Trophy represents a full promotion. Both will now train and compete regularly with the first team, while the remaining youngsters are expected to alternate between the main squad and the B team.

The performances shown during preparation were decisive in Rui Borges’ decision. Flávio Gonçalves impressed with his boldness, speed and ability to unsettle defenders, while Rafael Nel once again stood out for the intensity, fitness and commitment he displayed in training sessions and friendly matches.

Flávio Gonçalves is also in a strong position to earn minutes on the left flank. The youngster started against Celtic, Strasbourg and Monaco and could even be included in the starting XI for the first official match, despite competition from Jesse Derry and Sporting’s intention to sign another winger.

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