Market heats up: 12 scouts to watch Sporting man on international duty | OneFootball

Maxi Araújo’s standout season has sparked growing interest in the Uruguayan wing-back, who is expected to start for Uruguay tonight against England at Wembley. The match, scheduled for 7:45 pm, will also serve as another showcase for the Sporting player.

According to Record, scouts from 12 Premier League clubs will be in attendance to watch the left-footed player. English interest adds to that already seen at Alvalade during the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Bodo/Glimt, where representatives from Chelsea, Atlético de Madrid, Milan and Tottenham were present. In that match, Maxi scored Sporting’s fourth goal, helping complete the comeback after the 3-0 defeat in the first leg.

Known as “El Papo”, a childhood nickname, the player is expected to operate further up the pitch. Marcelo Bielsa is likely to use him as a left winger in a 4-3-3 system rather than as a full-back. Maxi Araújo will conclude his involvement in this international window against Algeria on 31 March, at 8:30 pm Portugal time, in Turin, at Juventus’ stadium.

Despite interest from several clubs, Sporting’s hierarchy want to keep the player at Alvalade for at least one more season. The Sporting board does not place Maxi Araújo among the players open to negotiation in the summer, viewing him as a key figure. Even so, the club is aware that the market could dictate a different outcome, especially in the face of high offers.

This season for Sporting, Maxi Araújo — valued at €25 million — has made 35 appearances: 21 in Liga Portugal Betclic, nine in the UEFA Champions League, three in the Portuguese Cup, one in the League Cup and one in the Super Cup. In the 2,787 minutes he has been on the pitch, the wing-back has scored six goals and provided four assists.

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