Rui Borges could hand Sporting debut to new signing - AFS | OneFootball

Rui Borges had already left this possibility open and it is now confirmed: Nuno Santos is included in the squad list for the match against AFS, in Alvalade, for the quarter-finals of the Portuguese Cup, which takes place this Thursday, February 5th.

The left winger has been away from the main team for 467 days, since the serious knee injury suffered on October 26, 2024, in Famalicão, and may now return to gain minutes. The player had already returned to competition by being recently used in the B team's game against Oliveirense.

"Fotis Ioannidis and Zeno Debast are out. Nuno Santos might be included in the squad," emphasized Rui Borges in the preview of the main event, although not giving any certainty about the presence of the 'number 11' on the match sheet.

At this moment, the green and whites are looking to win their 19th trophy in the competition, after the victory in last year's final against Benfica by 3-1, after extra time. The lions have already eliminated Paços de Ferreira (3-2), Marinhense (3-0), and Santa Clara (3-2, after extra time).

Nuno Santos – valued at 7 million euros – joined Sporting in 2020, coming from Rio Ave, for 4.15 million euros (Transfermarkt data). Since then, the 30-year-old winger has accumulated 196 matches, 34 goals, 42 assists, and seven titles (three National Championships, one Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, one Portuguese Cup, and two League Cups).

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