Exclusive Leonino: Sporting seek deal to part ways with centre-back | OneFootball

Sporting wants to terminate Rafael Pontelo's contract next summer, Leonino has learned. The central defender, currently on loan to Farense, has never lived up to expectations since arriving at Alvalade, which is why the green and white management intends to end the relationship between the parties.

According to our newspaper, the Alvalade Club officials admit they made a mistake in signing the Brazilian player in the winter market of 2024. The player never convinced Ruben Amorim or Rui Borges that he deserved a place in the squad.

Despite being tied to the green and white emblem until 2028, the defender has already had several loan experiences, namely Pafos (Cyprus), Auda (Latvia), and now Farense, teams where he never managed to establish himself as a valid option.

The player made his debut for the first team on January 9, 2024, in the lions' home game against Tondela, in a match counting for the round of 16 of the Portuguese Cup, where the Alvalade team won 4-0. The defender started the match and was substituted at halftime, having only played one more minute in a trip to Vizela.

In the current season, Rafael Pontelo - valued at 150 thousand euros - was scarcely used in the Sporting B team. The central defender appeared in only three matches.

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