Rui Borges’ understudy after Sporting win: We’re going for more | OneFootball

Rui Silva suffered an injury in the final training session before Sporting's trip to Famalicão's field. With his absence, João Virgínia took the starting position and guarded the goal for the lions in the 2-1 victory. After the game, the goalkeeper expressed great satisfaction for returning to Rui Borges' starting eleven.

"Great reaction from the whole team! +3 (points). Very happy to represent Sporting again in the Liga Portugal Betclic. Side by side, let's go for more", wrote the 'number 12' of the green and whites on his social media, along with some photos from the match.

The first - and last - time João Virgínia had been a starter for Sporting in the National Championship was in 2022. In the goalkeeper's first stint at Alvalade, still with Ruben Amorim as head coach, the Portuguese was started in a 4-0 victory against Santa Clara.

At the end of the season, João Virgínia left Sporting and went to Cambuur, in the Netherlands, on loan from Everton. With little room at Goodison Park, the goalkeeper was re-signed by the lions, this time permanently, to replace Franco Israel, who signed with Torino.

This season, wearing Sporting's jersey, João Virgínia - valued at 800 thousand euros - has one match, in which he played 90 minutes and conceded one goal. The goalkeeper was also used in the Troféu Cinco Violinos, against Villarreal, due to Rui Silva's unavailability.

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