Rui Borges has already chosen Sporting's third striker for 2026/27 | OneFootball

Rafael Nel made room for himself at Sporting during the second half of the season and heads into the holidays with strong reasons to believe he will be part of the first-team squad in 2026/27. The young forward won over Rui Borges over the past few months and, for now, has a guaranteed place in the fight for a spot in Sporting’s attack.

The opportunity came after the lengthy absence of Fotis Ioannidis, who missed virtually the entire second half of the season through injury. Rafael Nel was called up from the B team to join the first team and, despite some natural difficulties in the early stages of adaptation, he ended up responding positively to the coaching staff’s demands.

The 21-year-old forward’s ability to learn, daily attitude and resilience were key factors in convincing Rui Borges. Before heading off on holiday, the Sporting coach told the player that he is counting on him for next season, giving him the chance to join the main group on a permanent basis.

Even with limited playing time, Rafael Nel managed to make his mark. Playing for the first team, he scored three goals and provided one assist, numbers that reinforced Sporting’s confidence in his abilities. Beyond his attacking output, his commitment in training and matches was also highly valued by the club’s decision-makers.

Given this progress, Rui Borges believes he already has a third in-house option for the attack, behind Luis Suárez and Fotis Ioannidis, removing the immediate need to look for another striker on the market. The club’s commitment to developing academy players therefore continues to play an important role in building the squad.

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