Alisson Santos was first tipped for Sporting by... João Pereira | OneFootball

Alisson Santos is currently one of the most talked-about players at Sporting, especially after scoring the goal that secured the Lions' 2-1 victory against Marseille. However, Rui Borges was not the first to want the Brazilian player at the Alvalade Club.

Although the coach of the green and whites tried to secure his services while still at Vitória de Guimarães - but Leiria did not accept the proposal from the team at that time - it was João Pereira and his technical team at Sporting who first inquired about the player.

According to Carlos Delgado, Leiria's sporting director, the former coach of the Lions and the rest of Sporting's structure were impressed with Alisson in November 2024, during a training match at the Cristiano Ronaldo Academy - which the green and whites won 5-2 - but in which the Brazilian winger stood out. "Who is that kid?" the Lions' team reportedly asked.

However, his move to Alvalade ended up being delayed, as he was even removed from training due to contractual issues and changes in agents. His move to Sporting eventually pleased Rui Borges, who always believed in the player's potential.

“Sporting paid a negligible amount, based on what the big Portuguese clubs have been paying for players. It was a precise shot on a player who came from the second division. It won't be easy for him to be a starter, but you can be sure he will fight hard. He is an irreverent player, irresponsible in a good way, as he doesn't care who the opposing right-back is. Whether it's Marseille or any other team, he just goes for it. Sporting signed, at the time, the player with the highest dribbling rate,” stated Carlos Delgado.

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