Sporting may be forced to sell Maxi Araújo | OneFootball

Sporting are preparing a contingency plan in case they fail to qualify for the Champions League, a scenario that would mean losing significant income, just from entering the competition, around €18.6 million, potentially rising to much higher amounts, such as the €80 million earned last season.

Faced with that risk, the SAD led by Frederico Varandas has already defined a clear strategy for the summer: Maxi Araújo could be the major sale, effectively serving as Clube de Alvalade’s “Champions League” in financial terms.

The 26-year-old Uruguayan international is seen as one of the squad’s most valuable assets and the one most likely to generate the highest return on the market. At Alvalade, they believe it is possible to complete a transfer worth around €60 million, even though the player has a release clause set at €80 million and a contract valid until 2029.

Interest from clubs in Europe’s top leagues, with Arsenal among those keeping a close eye on him, strengthens the lions’ negotiating position, as they aim to create competition to maximize the fee. His strong performances in the Champions League have also helped cement the image of Maxi Araújo as a player ready for a higher competitive level.

This type of strategy is not new. The last time they failed to reach the Champions League, Sporting secured a major sale with Manuel Ugarte, who was transferred to PSG for €60 million. That same summer, the lions also brought in €40 million for Pedro Porro through the clause triggered by Tottenham.

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