Portuguese Football in English
With one of the summer's major transfer sagas finally over after João Félix completed his big-money move to Altetico Madrid, Portuguese champions Benfica can now prepare for the new campaign with clarity after the departure of their young star.
Raúl De Tomás, Chiquinho, Jhonder Cádiz and Caio have all joined the Eagles ranks ahead of the new campaign, and PortuGOAL takes a closer look at the arrivals and assesses the impact of this summer's business on Bruno Lage's side.
Sporting have yet to sell their hero Bruno Fernandes despite plenty of interest from elite clubs all over Europe. He’s not the only player set to leave the Alvalade this season with some big names also rumoured to depart.
However, Luís Neto, Luciano Vietto, Valentín Rosier and exciting prospect Rafael Camacho have all arrived to bolster the squad but could Eduardo Henrique and Lucas Robertone be joining them shortly?
PortuGOAL gives an update on Sporting’s transfer dealings in preparation for the 2019/2020 season.
Several weeks into the off-season and transfer activity at Portugal’s two Lisbon clubs has been far more subdued that expected.
One week ago, it appeared Benfica forward João Félix had been sold for huge money to Atlético Madrid, but the headlines diminished with each passing day. Meanwhile Sporting’s star man Bruno Fernandes admitted after the Nations League final, “every day I’m sold to a different club by the papers,” yet nothing has come of the multiple rumours.
In all likelihood we are experiencing the calm before the storm, and everything points towards pastures new for both players. The smart money like at gambling advisors is that both players will soon be sporting the colours of their new clubs. But what is the current state of play regarding the two best players in the Primeira Liga in 2018/19 and their many suitors?
Félix and Fernandes on the move?
As the summer opens and the football draws to a close, footballers take holidays and begin to relax. However, the intense work behind the scenes at a football club is perpetual. We take a closer look at the rigorous preparations Sporting CP and SL Benfica are making ahead of the 2019/20 Liga NOS campaign.
We will start with SL Benfica, fresh off the back of their 37th Primeira Liga title and a good run in the Europa League which saw them reach the quarter-finals. The main objectives for Benfica next season will be to retain the title and also perform better than they have in recent years in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. Fans who believe they will do so can bet at sbobet88 and earn some money if they are proved right. For this to be possible, their business in this window has to be smart, and retaining the core of this young and energetic side is vital.
FC Porto’s 2018/19 team is being completely dismembered, leaving the board and coach Sérgio Conceição eager to replenish the squad. So far, the departures are official of Felipe, to Atletico Madrid, and Militão, who was confirmed in April to be joining Real Madrid in the summer.
Goalkeeper Iker Casillas is to retire, while right-back Alex Telles, midfielder Héctor Herrera, winger Yacine Brahimi and forward Moussa Marega are also all expected to leave the Dragão, necessitating numerous incursions into the transfer market.
