Rui Borges takes 3 Sporting gems to Lagos camp; find out who | OneFootball

Sporting will begin the new pre-season with special attention on the development of three academy youngsters who could earn a place in Rui Borges' main squad. Rafael Nel, Flávio Gonçalves and Salvador Blopa will be included in the training camp in Lagos, in the Algarve, where they will have the opportunity to prove themselves and fight for a spot in the squad.

Rafael Nel is one of the standout names in this group, after picking up minutes between the B team and the first team last season. The young forward featured in 23 Liga 2 matches, as well as making appearances in the league, the Champions League and the Portuguese Cup, scoring in the thrashing of Bodo/Glimt and on his first start against Santa Clara.

Flávio Gonçalves is another rising talent in Sporting’s setup, seen as a versatile player with great attacking ability. With 23 Liga 2 matches and five goals last season, the youngster has been developed with a view to being able to play in various attacking positions, including more central areas. The club is even considering adapting him to a role similar to that of Francisco Trincão.

Meanwhile, Salvador Blopa - who is attracting interest abroad - enjoyed an initially promising season with the first team after an impactful debut against Alverca in the League Cup, where he scored twice. The youngster also made appearances in the league and the Champions League, although his development was hampered by physical problems that kept him off the pitch for several weeks.

As such, the trio of young Lions heads into pre-season with different ambitions, but with the same goal: to convince Rui Borges and make the definitive step up to the first team. The final decision will depend on their pre-season performances, their physical response, and also on the options Sporting secures in the market for the new season.

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