Captain Morten Hjulmand says his goodbyes to Sporting as Lions continue rebuild | OneFootball

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Sporting Clube de Portugal continue to make wholesale changes to their squad. Captain Morten Hjulmand has left Alvalade after three seasons at the Lisbon giants.

Hjulmand’s departure had been expected since the end of the season, and this weekend his transfer to Atletico Madrid for €40 million plus €5 million in add-ons was confirmed.

The 27-year-old was a huge success in Portugal, playing a key role in Sporting winning two successive championships for the first time in 60 years in 2023/24 and 2024/25.

In a goodbye message published on social media, Hjulmand thanked the club and its fans.

“Today’s a sad day because I’m leaving my Sporting where I grew, and where I adored every moment: in training, the matches, home and away. Sporting has a special place in my heart.

“It was here where my daughter was born and one day in the future, I will tell her that I was captain of Sporting. It’s a source of huge pride that will always stay with me.”

In addition to Hjulmand, two other undisputable starters will also be leaving Sporting in the coming days or weeks according to the Portuguese press.

Portugal international Francisco Trincão is close to completing a big-money move to Al Ali in Saudi Arabia for a fee of €45 million, and Pedro Gonçalves is also reported to on his way to the Middle East.

In terms of incomings, Sporting have cast their web far and wide and have been splashing the cash with the purchase of Rodrigo Zalazar (from Braga), Issa Doumbia (Veneza, Italy), Sergi Altimira (Betis, Spain), Silas Andersen (Hacken, Sweden), Pedro Lima (AVS) and the loan signing of Jesse Derry (Chelsea, England) for combined fees approaching €100 million.