Exclusive: Rui Borges to get Portuguese midfielder at Sporting in 2026 | OneFootball

Rui Borges does not yet have an exact date for when he can count on Daniel Bragança. As revealed by our Journal in this Leonino Exclusive, the midfielder's recovery is taking longer than expected, and everything points to his return being only next year.

According to information gathered from a source close to the process, Daniel Bragança has no return date, but it is certain that the left-footer will only be an option for Rui Borges in 2026, as he is still weakened due to a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Daniel Bragança suffered the second serious injury of his career on February 15, 2025, during Sporting's home game against Arouca (2-2). Since then, the midfielder has not been an option and, despite some forecasts pointing to a return this October.

Bragança is already doing some work on the field and light running exercises. However, Sporting's officials do not want a hasty return for the midfielder, so the footballer trained at the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy will only return when there is certainty of a low probability of a relapse.

In the 2024/25 season, wearing the Sporting jersey, Daniel Bragança – valued at 12 million euros – played 29 matches: 18 in the Liga Portugal Betclic, eight in the Champions League, two in the Portuguese Cup, and one in the Super Cup. In the 1,590 minutes played, he scored four goals and made nine assists.

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