Ledman LigaPro comes to a close with a draw in Braga

The Ledman LigaPro season game to a close with a 1-1 draw against Sp. Braga B this weekend, in a match which saw Luís Martins blood several new faces. In the end it was one of the youngsters who decided the result, with Rafael Leão netting on his senior debut in the dying stages.

Jorge Jesus on the last game of the campaign

The last match of the season, the 2017/18 campaign and the coming transfer window were the three main topics covered by Jorge Jesus in this Saturday's pre-match press conference. While keeping the focus on winning the three points on Liga NOS matchday 34, the Alvalade coach also dismissed rumours on his relationship with president Bruno de Carvalho.

"This is the last game of a season that hasn't gone how we wanted it to. Our last game wasn't how we wanted it to be either. We are on the back of two loses and the atmosphere isn't great now, but we want to end this season with a win for the fans. We want to finish on a good note and turn our attention to next season", opened Jesus, who is already looking ahead to a series of preparatory meetings with Bruno de Carvalho: "We have ideas to talk about and we are working on them. What we want next season is one that is like my first here. A team that fights tooth and nail for the title. That is what we are looking to build and that is what we will be talking about."

To finish Jorge Jesus proved puzzled in relation to interest in Adrien, William Carvalho and Rui Patrício: "I honestly don't know anything about what is being said in the press. They are all important players for us, they are Euro 2016 winners and they are central to our project. We have grown in terms of developing our players and losing one of them wouldn't be complete unexpected."

Charity event returns to the Portuguese capital

Estádio José Alvalade will once again host Football Aid this year, this time taking place on the 26th of May with two matches.

Football aid is a charity initiative in partnership with the English Premier League and has already organised around 500 events with teams including Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Barcelona.

As usual fans will have the chance to play in Alvalade for a fee that will be fully donated to charity.

Rui Patrício donates Euro 2016 shirt to the Sporting Museum

Rui Patrício was at the Sporting Museum this week to offer his Euro 2016 winning shirt for safekeeping. "I am really proud to offer my shirt to Sporting CP and the Sporting Museum. It means a lot, because I used it in the first game of Euro 2016. This shirt has a lot of history and it being here for everyone to see means a lot", said the Alvalade shotstopper.

Mattheus Oliveira on his move to Alvalade

Just a few hours after Cristiano Piccini secured a move to Alvalade, Mattheus Oliveira followed with a four-year deal and a buy-out clause of 60,000,000.00€. Reflecting on the decision, the midfielder couldn't be happier.

"I chose Sporting CP because of the club's history. I am really happy with this opportunity and I didn't think twice when it came up. It was because of the history of the club and the players who have come before me. I also want to make history at Sporting CP", said Oliveira.

"When I came to Portugal Estoril was my wa into European football and I had thought about getting into one of the big Portuguese clubs", added the midfielder, finishing: "I can bring my quality to the squad and I want to help, either with quality or drive. I like getting on the ball and setting up my teammates. I can also shoot from range and pass well in different situations."

Statement on medical tests undertaken by Cristiano Piccini in Hospital da Luz

In light of news published in relation to the clinical status of the athlete Cristiano Piccini and medical tests undertaken at Hospital da Luz, Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD notes the following:

1 – We are saddened by the fact that a hospital was not able to safeguard the fundamental principle of patient and professional confidentiality, thereby allowing restricted documents related to a patient to be released. These facts are extremely serious.

2 – Sporting SAD hopes that this remains as an isolated incident that is not repeated in the future, in order that Sporting CP and Hospital da Luz may continue cooperating.

Mattheus Oliveira

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Estoril Praia – Futebol SAD for the permanent transfer of Mattheus Oliveira. The player has signed a contract valid until 2022, with a buy-out clause of 60,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Mattheus Oliveira the best of professional and personal success.

Cristiano Piccini

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Real Betis for the permanent transfer of the player Cristiano Piccini. The player has signed a contract valid until 2022, wih a buy-out clause of 45,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Cristiano Piccini the best of professional and personal success.

Cristiano Piccini makes the move to the Portuguese capital

After Sporting CP secured the services of the central defender André Pinto from Sp. Braga back in April, Cristiano Piccini has become the second additional to the Alvalade armoury, with the wing-back produced at Fiorentina penning a three-year deal in a move from Real BEtis

"I feel really good here in Alvalade, with such a big club, and I am really happy. I know that the fans here are fantastic, which will drive me to play as well as I can. It is a nice opportunity for me and I want to make the most of it", said the 24-year old Italian in an interview with the Sporting Journal this week, before leaving a message for the fans.

"I will work as hard as I can and I like to get forward to set up and even score the odd goal", affirmed Piccini, finishing: "I love getting up and down the wing and physically I am in good shape. I really want to help Sporting CP win titles and I am sure we will be really happy in the coming seasons."

Jorge Jesus looks ahead to the weekend's Liga NOS action

Speaking in his pre-match press conference this Friday, coach Jorge Jesus accepted that last weekend's loss at the hands of Belenenses brought to an end one of the club's objectives for the 2016/17 campaign.

"The team really felt the loss, because we were on the back of a good run of games, with nine wins and two draws. It was a special day with a lot of families at the stadium, even though we are out of the title race. It was hard for us to lose like that, but players and coaches have to learn to live with both wins and loses. We have totalled 33 points in the second half of the season, which is at the same level as the teams at the top of the table. The match against Belenenses has stopped us going for 42 points, which is what we did last season", said Jesus.

Next on his list for analysis was the weekend's visit to 9th place Feirense: "This is one of the last games of the season and the win will be important for us. Feirense is a chance for us to pick up where we left off. It will be a hard game, like they all are in this league. Feirense have had a great season by their standards, built around intensity and good defensive organisation. "

About president Bruno de Carvalho's statement midweek, Jesus is in agreement: "The president said what he said and I have nothing to add. I agree with him and what we have to do now is pick ourselves up for the match against Feirense. The president took the right approach."