Leonino exclusive: Sporting seek deal to part ways with centre-back | OneFootball

Sporting wants to terminate Rafael Pontelo's contract next summer, Leonino has learned. The central defender, currently on loan at Farense, has never managed to meet expectations since arriving at Alvalade, which is why the green and white management intends to put an end to the relationship between the parties.

According to information gathered by our newspaper, the Alvalade club officials admit they made a mistake in signing the Brazilian player during the 2024 winter transfer window. The player never convinced Ruben Amorim or Rui Borges that he deserved a place in the squad.

Despite being tied to the green and white club until 2028, the defender has already had several loan spells, namely at Pafos (Cyprus), Auda (Latvia), and now Farense, clubs where he was never able to establish himself as a valid option.

The player made his debut for the first team on January 9, 2024, in Sporting’s home match against Tondela, a game for the Portuguese Cup round of 16, in which the Alvalade side won 4-0. The defender started the match but was substituted at halftime, and only played one more minute in an away game at Vizela.

This season, Rafael Pontelo – valued at 150 thousand euros – was rarely used in the Sporting B team. The center-back appeared in only three matches.

Rafael Pontelo for Sporting’s first team:

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