Sporting signing set to achieve goal after Maxi Araújo injury | OneFootball

Maxi Araújo sustained an injury at the start of the 2025/26 season, and the main beneficiary so far has been Ricardo Mangas. The left-back, whom Sporting signed from Spartak Moscow this summer, is expected to achieve another career milestone due to the Uruguayan's unavailability: playing in a Champions League match.

Mangas is a trusted player of Rui Borges and was brought in as an alternative to Maxi Araújo on the left flank of the lion's defense, adding depth to the green and white squad. But a muscle injury to the Uruguayan player changed the plans of the lion's coach.

Rui Borges was forced to start Ricardo Mangas, especially since Nuno Santos is still injured and Matheus Reis is in limbo between staying or leaving this season. The left-back responded in the best way, with goals and assists, and established himself as the position's owner, at least until Maxi Araújo's return.

Now, that return is not expected to take long, as Maxi Araújo himself explained that he would be authorized to play about 30 minutes in the next Sporting match against Famalicão. However, this likely means that Ricardo Mangas will once again earn Rui Borges' starting spot in the Sporting team.

The same applies to the following match against Kairat Almaty, counting for the first round of the Champions League group stage. Without Maxi available to play the full 90 minutes, Ricardo Mangas is expected to start - fulfilling a dream, in green and white, in the prestigious competition - with the Uruguayan international potentially coming off the bench during the match.

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