João Mário spoke with us on Tuesday, talking about the moment when his dream of representing the Club’s senior side came true.

What does it mean to play for Sporting in Europe?
It is an honour to play for Sporting, both in Portugal and in Europe. We all love representing this Club and we always do our best. We feel a huge responsibility to defend Sporting in Europe.

Why is the NextGen Series so important?
It gives us an extra game each week and it is a different kind of competitiveness than that which we are used to in the national championships, because it allows us to come up against players from other countries.

What would you say you have already done for Sporting?
I gave a lot of myself to help Sporting become champion and it really was a unique experience.

What has been your most memorable moment so far in a Sporting shirt?
It was making my debut for the first team. It was a dream-come-true for me.

What do the fans mean to the team?
Playing at home is very different to playing away and a good crowd can really make a difference.

Why is the Sporting/Puma Academy so important?
It prepares us for the challenges that we will face as professionals. It is recognised internationally and it has all the right people for the job that we are doing.

Agostinho Cá: “Try my best”