Former Sporting chief says Hjulmand questioned Rui Borges's status | OneFootball

Morten Hjulmand’s remarks in the aftermath of the draw with Arsenal, which sealed Sporting’s elimination in the Champions League quarter-finals, continue to generate debate in the Sporting world. The captain described the match as “boring” for the spectators, an assessment that contrasted with Rui Borges’ view in the press conference.

On the sidelines of that match, the Danish international’s agent, Ivan Marko Benes, also addressed the midfielder’s future in comments to CMTV. Meanwhile, various voices linked to the Club commented on the issue, among them Jaime Marta Soares, former president of the General Assembly Board, who criticized the player — but not only him.

“Sporting have shown that things are going well. And the coach has had a hand in that, a very humble, human, hard-working man who has been making things work in his favor. But he does not have the stature to shield these attitudes. What Hjulmand said was very strong and profound. He may be a great coach, but there is the issue of stature. I have never questioned his professionalism, honesty or competence. But he does not have the stature for Sporting. And this Hjulmand issue confirms that, it undermines the coach. He is captain, he has done things as captain where he could already have been sent off together with the referees, because sometimes he goes too far. He is a great captain and an extraordinary player, but he cannot have certain attitudes. A large number of referees have allowed him to push things and end up abusing that. The coach should tell him that this is not the way. A captain must act at the right time, with elegance and tact, while respecting the rules. Sometimes he spoils the picture with the attitudes he takes,” he said.

The former director also addressed the strong possibility of the midfielder leaving at the end of the season, making an appeal to the Sporting hierarchy. “I would not like to see him leave Sporting. He is an extraordinary player. The president has a sporting plan, and that also involves Sporting’s finances. But it must be balanced so that the good players and the heart of the team do not leave. And certainly not for figures that are not a reward for everything Sporting has done for him. He also owes Sporting, he was an unknown player. Nobody knew Gyökeres either, he came here and it was Sporting who raised his value. Sporting have to maximize their return from their role in the whole process. Either he is sold very well, or if he leaves for the price being mentioned, I do not understand it. He should not be sold for less than 70 or 80 million euros. Financially, Sporting must be able to keep hold of the player. I want to believe in people and that Sporting are financially healthy, as they are also in sporting terms. I salute the work that has been done. But I do not believe there is a catch in the middle of it, because I hope things are not as concrete as they are being proclaimed in financial terms,” he said, recalling that the captain’s release clause is set at 80 million euros.

On the possibility of there being an agreement to facilitate his departure below that amount, Jaime Marta Soares was clear: “He is an indispensable player. If there is a pact, the members should know about it. They are the ‘alma mater’ of the institution and there must be clarity. There cannot be hidden pacts or hidden cats with their tails sticking out. There must be honesty and clarity.”

It should be recalled that, as our newspaper reported, there is an understanding between Hjulmand and the board led by Frederico Varandas to allow a transfer in the summer for values below the clause, with the negotiating threshold pointing to 40 million euros.

Even so, unlike what happened in the past with Viktor Gyökeres, the former MAG president believes there will not be another “soap opera” surrounding the Danish midfielder. “We have to learn from our mistakes. Sporting have already made some mistakes, from the time when there were several coaches to the poorly prepared departure of Ruben Amorim. Then there was the Gyö exit case. There are things no one understands. If this situation comes next [Hjulmand’s], it is another one that really will not be understandable. The asset must be valued. Agreements like that between the parties are natural. The coach must also define the team’s planning. Great teams must have a great leader to go far. They must have someone to promote them and make them function. If there is some backroom deal, it is very bad and it is yet another soap opera that is off-script,” he concluded.

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