Midfielder comes back to Alvalade after four years away

João Mário has rejoined Sporting CP on a loan deal from Internazionale, in an agreement struck on the closing day of the summer transfer window. The midfielder previously spent over a decade at the club, before a series of moves to clubs in Portugal, England, Russia and Italy.

Speaking at his presentation, João Mário said: "I feel great. I always wanted to return to a place where I was happy and where I want to be happy again. It's a great honour to come back to this place that I know well. I am here to help."

The Portuguese international, who won the 2016 European Championships with his country, explained the role that club president Frederico Varandas had in bringing him 'home.' "I have a close relationship with the president, who convinced me to return and made a great effort for me to take this decision. I know the club well, I know the people here and I want to play my best football."

As for his teammates, most of them are players with whom he has not yet become acquainted, but João Mário is looking forward to doing so.

"I've only worked with Seba [Coates]. I also know [Luís] Neto from the national team. The coach is different and I like what I've seen of him: It's a young squad and a young coach with excellent ideas. I have no doubt that I am going to adapt very well, because I identify with the project," he stated.

"Sporting CP have always been a club that have brought through young players. Coming up through that system, it makes me proud to see so many young players in the first team. I want to help them, because I've been through that phase of reaching the first team."

"I'm more mature and more experienced now," continued João Mário. "I left Sporting CP when I was very young. I spent four years away, in which I learned a lot. I had a process of gaining knowledge that was different in other countries."
 
The 27-year-old will once again pull on the No.17 shirt, and the explanation for this is simple.

"I believe that you don't mess with something that works. I like this number a lot. I tried to use it at other clubs, but it wasn't possible. The number 17 becoming available at Sporting CP for me is a sign."

Popular Italian newpaper praises the Sporting Football Factory

"A cradle of talent that continued to a page in the country's history", wrote the Italian newspaper Gazzetta about the Sporting Academy in an article this weekend, as part of a piece on João Mário's record-breaking transfer to Inter Milan.

The well-known Italian publication also mentioned Sporting's glory years, including the Five Violins and 1964 Cup Winners' Cup, before exploring the transfers of Made in Sporting players João Mário, Cristiano Ronaldo, João Moutinho, Nani, Quaresma, Cédric and José Fonte and the quality of Rui Patrício, Adrien and William Carvalho.

Club reaches agreement with Inter Milan for the transfer of João Mário

Sporting Clube de Portugal - Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Inter Milan for the permanent transfer of the player João Mário for 45,000,000.00€, with 5,000,000.00€ subject to objectives.

Sporting Clube de Portugal - Futebol, SAD wishes João Mário the best of personal and professional success.

Jorge Jesus on Sunday's classic and Sporting's transfer activity

Jorge Jesus saw down with the media this Saturday afternoon, for one of the most eagerly awaited press conferences of the Liga NOS campaign so far, with Sporting busy in the transfer market and FC Porto visiting Alvalade on Sunday.

"It is a classic, at the beginning of the season. Normally both teams know everything there is to know about each other and I know exactly what FC Porto can do. It will be an intense game, with both sides with their own strategy and tactics. We will try and impose ourselves on the match and if we do then we will be one step closer to getting the three points", opened the Sporting coach, going on to speak about João Mário's expected absence tomorrow: "I am not surprised. Some things you just can't get surprised about. What would surprise me is if we were not selling players at this price on the back of the success we have had. João Mário had an offer that isn't normal in this club or Portugal for that matter. I don't know if anything had been decided, but I do know that he is in Italy. What is there to talk about? Until he signs, nothing is decided. What has to be said is that he is a quality player and that is why a price has been agreed, but Sporting isn't just João Mário. Some of the other players have big teams looking at them as well. I wouldn't say we are weaker without João Mário. He is a young player with a bright future ahead of him and I wish him the best of luck if everything works out, but Sporting will still be here tomorrow and we have plenty of quality players."

Nuno Espírito Santo has already taken on Jorge Jesus on six occasions and has the unenviable record of having lost all six. However, Jesus is not expecting an easy afternoon' work: "How two teams balance up to each other can be down to the coaches and tactics can make the difference. Nuno was always at a disadvantage in the other matches, with weaker teams, but that is different now. We both have quality players to work with."

Sporting has certainly been busy in the transfer market, bringing in Campbell, André and Douglas and Jorge Jesus was kind enough to clear up some questions in relation to his squad for tomorrow: "Slimani will play. He has always done his best and been a great professional. I don't know what will happen with Slimani and that isn't down to me. My job is to get the best out of the players that I have available. Joel Campbell has all of his paperwork done and he will be in the squad. Douglas and André aren't ready yet."

Jesus saved his last words for pre-match predictions: "When two teams are balanced in football, their are no favourites. Both sides have their strong points and the lads are used to these big occasions. I wouldn't say FC Porto are stronger this season. We were in first when they came here last year, but you can't make any predictions after just three matches. What I will say is that FC Porto look strong, just like they did last season."

Portuguese midfielder moves to Italy for record sum

After 14 years with Sporting, João Mário has made a record-breaking 45,000,000.00€ move to Inter Milan.

At 23 years old, the Portuguese midfielder represented the senior team 171 and now follows in the footsteps of fellow big-money transfers Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.

The transfer is the most expensive in history for a Portuguese player in I Liga, beating Renato Sanches, Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho and Fábio Coentrão.

The transfer also equals the biggest ever transfer in Portuguese football, which was James Rodríguez.

Portugal to face Gibraltar (friendly) and Switzerland (World Cup qualifier)

Rui Patrício, William Carvalho, Adrien and João Mário all feature in Fernando Santos' squad for two coming fixtures.

Portugal will take on Gibraltar next Thursday, before facing Switzerland on the 6th of September in a World Cup qualifier.

Goalkeepers

- Rui Patrício (Sporting CP)
- Anthony Lopes (Lyon)
- Eduardo (D. Zagreb)

Defenders

- João Cancelo (Valencia)
- Cédric (Southampton)
- Pepe (Real Madrid)
- Bruno Alves (Cagliari)
- José Fonte (Southampton)
- Luís Neto (Zenit)
- Raphael Guerreiro (B. Dortmund)
- Eliseu (Benfica)

Midfielders

- William Carvalho (Sporting CP)
- Danilo (FC Porto)
- João Moutinho (Monaco)
- Adrien (Sporting CP)
- André Gomes (Barcelona)
- João Mário (Sporting CP)
- Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich)

Forwards

- Rafa Silva (Sp. Braga)
- Bernardo Silva (Monaco)
- Nani (Valencia)
- Quaresma (Besiktas)
- Éder (Lille)
- André Silva (FC Porto)

Jorge Jesus happy with his side's showing against Paços de Ferreira

Missing from the win against Paços de Ferreira, João Mário was inevitably one of issues put to the Sporting coach at the final whistle on Saturday.

"João Mário isn't here because of how he is physically. It would have been a risk to use him today. João Mário is a Sporting player and we have to make sure he doesn't pick up an injury when he could be moving. I didn't want him getting injured. If he improve, then he will play against FC Porto", affirmed Jorge Jesus, adding a work on the match itself: "Defensively we are more solid and you can only win games if you are well organised at the back. Paços didn't have a single opportunity. Offensively we have to do better and find our form from last season. We played against a team that has traditionally been tricky for us and it is important that we hae started off with a couple of wins. I thought Coates and Semedo did really well."

Adrien on Sporting's pre-season campaign and transfer rumours

Adrien made his first pre-season appearance this Saturday with a dominating showing against Wolfsburg.

"It was an important match to get us up to speed. Even the lads who came on in the second-half did well. After such a long break it is always hard to come back, but that it what we are doing", said the Alvalade skipper in a flash interview at the final whistle, adding a word on transfer rumours floating around: "The same thing happens every year, it is part of being in football. Of course we want to keep the best players here and the club knows what to do."

Adrien finished with a response to a question on João Mário: "João feels good here and everyone likes him. Everything else is up to him and Sporting. Just like João, I am happy here as well. People making bids is part of the profession, but I am happy here."