Sporting left-footer sidelined, return expected at season’s end | OneFootball

Daniel Bragança will not be returning to the pitch anytime soon. The Lions had indicated that the player might be close to making a comeback, but the Portugal U21 international is only expected to play again for the green and whites in the final months of the current season.

The Club of Alvalade’s number 23 remains one of the most challenging cases for the green and whites’ Performance Department and, at least for now, that is unlikely to change. Although he is already training with the ball, the Portuguese player still has several months of recovery ahead of him.

As Leonino reported exclusively, Daniel Bragança still does not have a set return date, but it is certain that the left-footer will only be an option for Rui Borges in 2026, as he is still weakened due to a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The player suffered the second serious injury of his career on February 15, 2025, during Sporting’s home match against Arouca (2-2). Bragança is already doing some work on the pitch and light running exercises. However, Sporting’s management does not want a rushed return for the midfielder, so the academy graduate from the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy will only come back when there is certainty of a low risk of relapse.

In 2024/25, wearing the Sporting shirt, Daniel Bragança – valued at 12 million euros – played 29 matches: 18 in Liga Portugal Betclic, eight in the Champions League, two in the Portuguese Cup, and one in the Super Cup. In the 1,590 minutes played, he scored four goals and provided nine assists.

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