Leonino exclusive: Zalazar? Hélder Amaral questions it: My question is... | OneFootball

Hélder Amaral "cannot find any rationale" in Sporting's decision to sign Rodrigo Zalazar. In an exclusive interview with our newspaper, the former member of the Leonino Board, in addition to the deal involving the Uruguayan midfielder, spoke about securing second place, the Portuguese Cup final, and the controversy surrounding that very match.

"I don't see the common thread. His quality is not in question. However, he seems to me like a player who is already of an advanced age and comes at a high price, with the expectation of making a profit from a future sale. I cannot find any rationale", he began by saying, before then expressing outrage at the academy's "abandonment."

"My question is: 'Why have we given up on investing in the academy?' The brief appearances of one or two academy players are not enough, because that is just to fool the gullible. And one only has to look at the case of Afonso Moreira, for example. We have players we let go who then go on to be considered the best in the leagues where they play. Then we look at our squad and there are things that are completely inconceivable, bordering on incompetence".

Changing the subject to the objective of securing second place in the League, Hélder Amaral believes it will not be easy, as the record against Gil Vicente does not help either. "It will be difficult. I don't know which Sporting will play on Saturday - whether it is the Sporting we had against the bottom two teams or the old and epic Sporting. I want to believe it will be the old Sporting", he said.

"We had a week to rest, a week to train, that is, all the excuses and explanations, whether from the point of view of injuries or player fatigue, no longer exist now. So, with or without difficulty, I hope the result will be positive and, if so, second place is guaranteed. I hope we rise to the occasion".

Additionally, the former member of the Leonino Board did not leave out his expectations regarding the Portuguese Cup final: "We have to win [...] I cannot imagine any other scenario. There are no excuses. Even with terrible refereeing and injuries along the way, Sporting have to win".

In closing, Hélder Amaral addressed the controversy surrounding the sale of tickets for the match in question: "It is a matter that deserves reflection. I remember that this Board won the elections with the phrase 'Unite Sporting', just as I remember the phrase 'Give Sporting Back to the Members'. Sporting was not united, nor was Sporting given back to the Members".

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