Rui Borges impressed, calls up Sporting youngster to first-team training | OneFootball

Rodrigo Ribeiro, a forward trained at Alvalade, made his first start in the match against Marinhense, three and a half years after his debut for the Lions’ first team. Although he didn’t score, Rui Borges liked the signs shown by the player, who will be permanently promoted to first-team training.

As a result, the club’s plan for the Portuguese U21 international has also changed. At this point, a January departure is not even being considered, and Sporting’s management has already indicated that they will not entertain any offers during the winter transfer window. The goal is to assess Rodrigo Ribeiro until the end of the season.

Now, after making his first start for Sporting’s first team, the player is aware that Rui Borges may call on him during the match against Club Brugge. The Lions’ number 28 will be on the bench and could even be brought on in the Champions League, since the green and whites only have Suárez available for that position.

It’s worth remembering that, at the end of the match against Marinhense, Rui Borges had high praise for the player: “I’m only sad because Rodrigo Ribeiro didn’t score. He played a great game and I was sorry he didn’t have the luck to score, because he deserved to debut in that aspect as well. He’s a kid who has grown tremendously and I think he can play as a striker and behind the striker. He’s refined, a technical prodigy, and makes good and different decisions.”

This season, wearing the Sporting shirt, Rodrigo Ribeiro – valued at 2.5 million euros – has played 12 matches: eight for the B team and two with the main squad. In total, the forward has accumulated 661 minutes, during which he scored four goals and provided one assist in Liga 2.

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