“I want to learn every day” Sevilla move gives Portugal's Rony Lopes perfect platform for career revival

Portuguese international Rony Lopes sealed his move from Monaco to Spanish outfit Sevilla on Wednesday in a deal worth €20m, bringing an end to a five-year stay in French football.

The former Benfica man was unveiled by the La Liga club and has already taken part in his first training session, a little over a week before the start of the new Spanish league season begins next Friday evening.

The move comes after the most frustrating 12 months in the career of the 23-year-old Brazilian-born midfielder. Monaco’s disastrous season was the backdrop for a campaign marred by a serious injury suffered in the early stages, with Lopes failing to fully recover from the setback as Leonard Jardim’s side narrowly avoided a shock relegation.

Lopes was side-lined with a thigh tear in September 2018 when representing Portugal against Croatia and was initially ruled out for two months. However, a relapse following another tear to the muscle ultimately resulted in doubling the length of his absence, with Lopes returning in early January after four months out.

Monaco had issued their star midfielder a new contract during his recovery and two goals in January made for positive signs that the Seleção man was nearing his best, as Leonardo Jardim returned to the club just three months after his sacking. The Monegasques’ turbulent season appeared to be stabilising, but another dip in form saw a drop off in performance from all the Stade Louis II.

Lopes scored just once in the final four months of the season as Monaco ended the year a mere two points clear of the drop zone. A promising pre-season - Jardim’s men beat Sampdoria, Porto and Valencia – was soon undermined by an opening day 3-0 home defeat to Lyon in Ligue 1 last Friday evening.

Monaco’s plight made a move to Spain an attractive option for Lopes, who scored 15 league goals and played in every Ligue 1 match during his first season with the club. Lopes, having spent much of his youth career at Manchester City, previously launched his senior career in France with three seasons at Lille.

"I am going to learn a lot here"

Upon his presentation to the Spanish media, the two-time Portugal international expressed his excitement at the new challenge. “The first impressions have been really good, I'm here to score goals and get assists, I'm a player that wants to improve every day, with the aim of working hard and helping the team. I want to thank everyone who has helped me to be here today,” he said

"I'm here to win trophies and to help Sevilla FC, it's a very big club in both Spain and Europe. It's a very good side, with very good players and a very good manager too [former Porto boss Julen Lopetegui] who has told me already about the style of play and what he wants from me. I'm very happy with him.

"For me La Liga is one of the best leagues, I've always had the ambition of playing here, I'll have to settle in and I hope it's done quickly. Spanish football is technical and high-paced, I think I am going to learn a lot here.”

The departure of Lopes is likely to be a blow for Jardim, who received a boost this week with the arrival of Wissam Ben Yedder from Sevilla in a separate deal. However, Sevilla’s gain could also prove that of Portugal if one of the country’s brightest prospects can rediscover his magic touch with the five-time Europa League winners.

By Sean Gillen