Official: Sporting’s 23/24 champion loaned out until season’s end | OneFootball

Rafael Pontelo will represent Farense until the end of the season, on loan. The 23-year-old Italo-Brazilian central defender is moving to the Algarve in the final moments of the winter transfer window, in a deal aimed at giving the player more competitive continuity in the second half of the season.

This season, Pontelo was rarely used in Sporting's B team - which was active in this transfer window. The centre-back appeared in only three matches and has not played since November 1st, a situation that led to the search for a solution that would allow the athlete more regular playing time.

The defender's recent career has been marked by successive loans. In 2024/25, still under contract with the Club, he played for Pafos, in Cyprus, and Auda, in Latvia, international experiences that contributed to his development but did not result in a consistent breakthrough at Alvalade.

Despite his limited use by the first team, Rafael Pontelo was part of the squad that won the national championship title in 2023/24. In that championship, the centre-back played only one official minute, against Vizela, but he can count the trophy win on his record, remaining connected to one of the most memorable moments of Sporting's season.

Now as a Farense player, Pontelo has shown motivation for this new challenge. In statements released by the Algarve club, the defender emphasized his "desire to improve and help the team" achieve its goals, guaranteeing "total commitment to daily work".

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