Rui Borges has made a final decision on two Sporting cases | OneFootball

Flávio Gonçalves and Rafael Nel secured a permanent place in Sporting’s main squad for the 2026/27 season. Of the eight academy youngsters called up by Rui Borges for the pre-season training camp in Lagos, only the attacking duo survived the final cut.

According to the newspaper A Bola, the presence of the two players among the 30 footballers presented to the fans at the Cinco Violinos Trophy represents a full promotion. Both will now train and compete regularly with the first team, while the remaining youngsters are expected to alternate between the senior squad and the B team.

The performances shown during preparation were decisive in Rui Borges’s decision. Flávio Gonçalves impressed with his flair, speed and ability to unsettle defences, while Rafael Nel once again stood out for the intensity, physical commitment and dedication he showed in training and in friendlies.

Nel strengthened his case for a place in attack by scoring again against Monaco. With Fotis Ioannidis still searching for his best competitive rhythm and Luis Suárez only returning later due to his participation in the World Cup, the striker developed at Alcochete emerges as a valid option for the start of the season, 'escaping' the loan move initially considered.

Flávio Gonçalves is also well placed to earn minutes on the left wing. The youngster started against Celtic, Strasbourg and Monaco and could even be part of the starting eleven in the first official match, despite competition from Jesse Derry and Sporting’s intention to sign another winger.

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