Surprise! Sporting starlet out of favour, just 2 mins this season | OneFootball

Zaid Bafdili, one of the gems tipped as part of Sporting’s future, is having a start to the season well below expectations, with just two minutes played for the B team. The 18-year-old Belgian midfielder has lost ground in Tiago Fernandes’ pecking order, at a time when this was expected to be a breakthrough season for the youngster.

Mateo Tanlongo and Samuel Justo moved ahead in the coach’s hierarchy in the match against Feirense, with Bafdili only coming on in the 89th minute.

Despite the limited opportunities at the start of the season, Bafdili remains tied to Sporting with a contract running until 2028. The player arrived at Alvalade after spells at Anderlecht, Mechelen, and Gent, and is seen as a prospect for the Lions’ future.

Last season, the midfielder split his playing time between the under-19s, under-23s, and the B team, in a path that fueled expectations that 2026/27 could mark a major step forward in his development. However, the start of the new campaign has painted a different picture.

His potential remains one of his main assets, but the next few matches will be important in determining whether he can win the coach’s trust and finally take on a bigger role.

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