Sporting's market is red-hot, but André Pinotes Batista warns on sales | OneFootball

Debating Sporting’s future - as it pursues an English centre-back - André Pinotes Batista believes that, based on the recent season, the Club must keep “moving forward”, starting with a summer transfer window that is not “squandered”. However, the well-known green-and-white supporter expresses confidence in Rui Borges and Frederico Varandas.

“Sporting have several players with a market. That is quite different from having put them on the market. Some departures will be inevitable and some arrivals desirable, but let us be clear: having sought-after assets does not mean selling the starting eleven on the cheap,” he wrote in his latest opinion piece, published in Record newspaper.

In the same vein, the commentator close to the Lions stressed: “The players have contracts, the SAD has financial health, and the board has the possibility of using the cushions it has built to make our football even more competitive and resilient.”

The MP acknowledges that the Club’s efforts will have to continue. “The model that brought Sporting to its current level deserves praise; however, the end of last season revealed some growing pains. Anyone who wants to compete on all fronts must add to emerging talent players who are ready-made, mature and capable of making an impact as soon as they arrive,” he highlighted, then ‘protecting’ the future under Rui Borges.

“This seems to be the direction of travel. Not replacing process with impulse, but evolving within it. And, for such ambitions, Rui Borges cannot be trapped in the outfit of a short-term coach. If he is the chosen one for the rebuilding, then he deserves trust, room to work and protection.”

As for the Sporting board’s leadership ability, the well-known green-and-white supporter believes the Lions’ president is competent. “Frederico Varandas has titles, legitimacy and the moral authority to carry out this transition. He will make a serious mistake if, because he knows the virtues of the path, he fails to understand the urgent need to explain it, rallying with his plan a fan base that is grateful, yet wounded in its pride,” he concluded.

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