The Uruguayan goalkeeper signs in the summer transfer market

Franco Israel has been signed by Sporting Clube de Portugal on a five-year contract, joining with a buyout clause of 45 million euros.

The Uruguayan goalkeeper arrives at the club after four seasons with Italian side Juventus FC. He was presented on Tuesday afternoon, in an event that was also attended by club president Frederico Varandas.

"I'm very happy to be here. This is one of the biggest clubs in Portugal and I'm looking forward to starting training with my teammates and playing," he told Sporting CP media.

His interview was interrupted by a call from one such teammate: fellow countryman Manuel Ugarte, with whom he played in the Uruguayan Under-20s side. Israel revealed that he spoke with his friend "from the first moment" that the opportunity to strengthen Sporting CP arose.

In Lisbon, the goalkeeper will be captained by another compatriot: Sebastián Coates.

"I didn't know Seba [Coates] personally, but I also spoke to him," he said, before commenting on what it will be like alongside the experienced Antonio Adán: "Working with [Antonio] Adán means working with one of the best Spanish goalkeepers, someone who played for Real Madrid CF and Atletico Madrid and who has been doing very well at Sporting CP. For me, working with a goalkeeper of his level helps me a lot. It's very important."

"I come here with great enthusiasm and I will give everything every day to win trophies. I know the importance of the club", he guaranteed.

In 2021/2022, Franco Israel was the starting goalkeeper for Juventus FC's Under-23 team, playing 38 matches. He was also named on the substitutes' bench for the first team. He has also featured for Club Nacional de Football, one of Uruguay's most prominent teams, and been capped at Under-17 and Under-20 level.

The squad play practice matches against Casa Pia AC and UD Vilafranquense

Sporting Clube de Portugal played two 60-minute training games on Monday at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo, as their preseason picks up pace.

In the first, against Casa Pia AC, Os Leões drew 1-1, with a team consisting of Antonio Adán, Luís Neto, José Marsà, Matheus Reis, Diogo Travassos, Dário Essugo, Daniel Bragança, Fatawu, Bruno Tabata, Pedro Gonçalves and Youssef Chermiti. Sporting CP's goal was scored by Pedro Gonçalves.

In the afternoon, against UD Vilafranquense, Sporting CP won 1-0, fielding André Paulo, Ricardo Esgaio, Chico Lamba, Flávio Nazinho, Hevertton Santos, Hidemasa Morita, Mateus Fernandes, Nuno Santos, Marcus Edwards, Luís Gomes and Paulinho . Marcus Edwards scored the only goal of the match.

The squad return to training this Wednesday, after a day off.

The squad are back in training at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo

The Sporting Clube de Portugal squad are back in training for the 2022/23 season, and the players were put through their paces on Sunday morning at the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo in Alcochete.

Rúben Amorim continues to use preseason to see more young players up close, calling up Youssef Chermiti and Diogo Travassos as well as Hevertton Santos.

Pedro Porro missed the session with flu, as did Jeremiah St. Juste due to a sprain to his right ankle.

Japanese international signs through to 2026

Hidemasa Morita is the latest addition to the Sporting Clube de Portugal squad, joining through to 2026 with a buyout clause of 45 million euros. The 27-year-old midfielder signs from CD Santa Clara, where he played for the last two seasons.

“Ever since I came to Portugal I have wanted to play for Sporting CP. This is a very big, fantastic club. I am very happy,” he began by telling the media at his presentation event.

“Without a doubt this is the biggest challenge in my entire career. I am very happy to be able to join this club”.

Before his time in the Azores, Morita represented Ryutsu Keizai UFC and Kawasaki Frontale in his homeland, winning two league titles, a Japanese Cup, a League Cup and a Super Cup. Now, with his arrival at Sporting CP, he hopes to achieve another of his goals.

“My dream has always been to play in the UEFA Champions League, and it's unbelievable that this is happening,” he said on Friday.

Capped by Japan on 16 occasions (scoring two goals), the new signing also praised coach Rúben Amorim, saying that "He is smart and has built an aggressive team. I feel comfortable with that and I can't wait to work with him."

As for his preferred position, the midfielder commented that “I feel very good in both the No.6 and No.8 position, and I have confidence in both roles."

“The Sportinguistas are fantastic and I can't wait to play with them in the stands. I will do my best for them,” he assured.

Club maintain values from the 2019/2020 season, include up to 23 Champions League games and set a price from €93 -with the possibility of payment in installments

'Your Passion has a Place' is the motto with which Sporting Clube de Portugal kick off the 2022/2023 season, with the first call to arms of the summer.

From Thursday, June 23rd, all Members can purchase their new Gamebox for the upcoming campaign.

After two difficult years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the club have decided to reward all members for their loyalty, and will apply the same prices this season as in 2019/2020 (the last season before the pandemic), with the added value of the team participating in the Champions League.

Gamebox 2021/2022 holders have exclusivity to renew their seat through to July 8th.

Gamebox 2022/2023 includes up to 23 games and special offers this year:

Games included
- Troféu Cinco Violinos on July 24th
- 17 Liga Portugal games
- 3 Champions League group stage games
- Up to 2 Taça da Liga games

Special offers that can be cumulative
- Two invitations to Liga Portugal games, except for the August/September fixtures, matches against FC Porto and SL Benfica, and the last game at home
For Gamebox Members aged 19 and above (with an annual place since 2003)
20% discount at the Loja Verde at the stadium, to use in a single purchase from September 1st to October 31st, 2022.
Exclusively for Members who renew or purchase the Gamebox with cash payment
Free entry to the Sporting CP Museum until June 30th, 2023
For all Members with Gamebox 2022/2023
 
Prices for 2022/2023:

The main advantages of the Gamebox are:
- Access to the best seats at the Estádio José Alvalade
- Fixed seat throughout the season
- Savings compared to game-by-game purchases at the ticket office
- Easy payment with 3 interest-free installments
- Wide range of prices: From €93 to €450
- Special prices for children, young people, women and seniors
- Card transferability within the same typology
- Priority for games not included
- Right of preference in the purchase of tickets for finals
 
The following discounts are applied compared to the adult price:
1. Children from 3 years old (inclusive) to 11 years old: 50% off
2. Young people up to 23 years old, women and seniors aged 65 and over: 23% off
This year, the renewal, purchase and relocation process has been improved and can all be done online on the same page, improving the experience and making the entire process easier.

Just go to www.gamebox.sporting.pt, enter your Membership number and the last five digits of the Membership card, and follow the instructions through to the final purchase with the following payment options: MB Way, ATM reference or debit/credit card.

​Goalkeeper to stay at the club through to 2023

André Paulo will remain at Sporting CP until 2023, as the 25-year-old goalkeeper renewed his contract with the club this Wednesday.

“I'm very happy to continue at Sporting CP. It's what I wanted. I feel very good here,” he began by saying after putting pen to paper on the contract extension, before adding: “The group always thinks of the team and the players help each other a lot with our growth. With that, we also help the club, and this is a positive aspect of this squad."

After two seasons at the club already, and after having also played for teams such as AD Oeiras, Casa Pia AC and Real SC, the goalkeeper considers that he has developed a lot within a short time.

“I learned a lot from the training of Mister Vital and Tiago in the last two years. Working with them is very demanding, but that is very positive. For a goalkeeper, demand is very important. We have to be focused every second and we can never switch off. I hope to continue learning so that I can use what I've learnt on the pitch."

A Liga Portugal winner with the club in 2020/21, making his debut in the final matchday, the goalkeeper once again had the opportunity to feature at the Estádio José Alvalade in the game that closed 2021/2022.

“In the first game we had been crowned champions already, but there were no fans in attendance. In the second there were fans present, and it was spectacular to feel their support in Alvalade. Everyone likes to play with the fans in the stands, because there is a different level of joy. It makes us more confident and makes us better on the pitch.”

André Paulo also expressed his aspirations for next season.

“It will be demanding, but we have a lot of ambition and we need the fans alongside us to achieve our goals. I hope to continue to evolve and I will give everything in training to be available and at the best of my abilities when called upon. We will work to help the club achieve its goals."

Sporting CP buy the Spanish international on a permanent deal

Sporting Clube de Portugal have taken up the option to buy fullback Pedro Porro, who after two seasons at the club on loan from Manchester City joins on a permanent deal.

The Spanish international has signed a contract through until 2025, with a release clause of 45 million euros.

“I am very happy. When I came here, I knew I was coming to a great club, but I didn't expect to have achieved what I have in these two years and for us to have created this family, this strong group. We've played well and won trophies," he began by saying after putting pen to paper on the contract.

Porro revealed that staying at the club was his wish: “From the beginning, my objective was to help Sporting CP, where I knew that the demand is of a high level. This is a big club, I've been given an opportunity and I'm very happy to continue here."

As part of the team, the defender has won four trophies -one Liga Portugal, two Taca da Liga and one Supertaça - and has received great affection from the fans.

“I know very well what the expectation from the supporters is, and in games we realise how important this is. I've always liked that, and also the demand that wearing this badge requires. You have to have grit, have attitude and run right to the end. That's what I've done so far,” he said, adding: “I always try to work as hard as I can and I've always done that. That's what I was taught to do, and I know that to be a top-level player you have to have this kind of demand. Giving everything until the end is part of me, and the support of the fans also helps me a lot."

With 72 games, nine goals scored and 10 assists in two seasons, Porro recalls some special moments at the club:

“The goal in the Taça da Liga final, which helped us win the trophy, and the Champions League [against Borussia Dortmund] in the game where we qualified for the Round of 16. Those goals were special, but the truth is that since I arrived here I have had some very beautiful moments."

An assessment from the coach of the win over CD Santa Clara and the season itself

Rúben Amorim spoke after the 4-0 win over CD Santa Clara (4-0) that rounded off the Liga Portugal season, and reflected on a campaign which ended with the same number of points (85) as the previous year.

“We were more of a team than last year, and there was less suffering in our games. We scored more goals and also conceded more, but we didn't deserve that - and I say that because there were one or two shots that came off deflections. Even so, I think we defended better, we had more of the ball and that's why we didn't let our opponents have as many opportunities," he said.

"What I take away is that we were in the fight for all the trophies in Portugal. We won two, we missed out on another one and we were in the fight for the league title until the end. We achieved 85 points, but there were small details in a short time that made the difference and could have given us six more points. Even with the fans back at the stadiums and with the Champions League, we scored the same points as last season."

“A new season will start soon and we will begin it with the same ambition."

“Sporting CP have a history of fighting for trophies, but there were important moments in the history of the club that made life very difficult. Many years were lost, but fighting for silverware is normal in Sporting CP's history. When I arrived, I think it was the year in which Sporting CP had suffered the most defeats, and now we are fighting for the title, going to finals, going to the Champions League and reaching the Last 16. We are taking Sporting CP where the club belongs."

 Amorim also spoke of the support of the Sportinguistas, who gave a standing ovation at the end of the game.

 “The fans have the highest level of demand, but they also understand that we have very difficult moments; and even in those, they supported us. That doesn't show a lack of demand, but rather intelligence. They know that it won't help if they're against the team. They should whistle us when they are unhappy, but at times there is nothing that helps more than the support of the fans.”

“Nobody is happy because we didn't win the league, but the fans see that the team give everything. There are three clubs who can be champions and all three have the obligation to fight for that title, but there is only one top spot and there are two that will fall by the wayside," he explained.

"The fans don't forget the recent past, when the club was not in the fight for these honours, but now we are in there, we want to win and, therefore, in the end they support a team that gave everything and failed. I think that reveals a lot of intelligence and not a lack of demand, because we have a lot of that."

Finally, Amorim revealed how he will spend the holidays.

 “This year I feel much more tired, perhaps also because we didn't win. I'm going to rest, but I think I'm going to rest for three days and then I'll miss this already (laughs). I'm going to enjoy myself and fill my days with family time, and annoy Hugo Viana to try to control everything because I'm quite annoying like that!"

The team with 4-0 at home in the season finale

Sporting Clube de Portugal signed off the Liga Portugal season with a 4-0 victory over CD Santa Clara at the Estádio José Alvalade, with goals from Bruno Tabata, Pedro Porro, Pablo Sarabia and Marcus Edwards.

Coach Rúben Amorim made changes to the starting XI for the game, opting for João Virgínia, Luís Neto, Sebastián Coates, Gonçalo Inácio, Pedro Porro, João Palhinha, Daniel Bragança, Nuno Santos, Bruno Tabata, Pablo Sarabia and Pedro Gonçalves.

The first half featured a special moment between the fans and two departing players: Zouhair Feddal and Pablo Sarabia were playing their last match for the club, and the latter was acknowledged in the 17th minute with chants from the Sportinguistas.

The first half went by without big chances until the final minutes, despite attacks from both teams. Sporting CP provided the first warning through Luís Neto, off a corner, which Ricardo Fernandes kept out. Sarabia would then be thwarted by the away side's defence.

João Virgínia was only called upon to intervene in the 13th minute, when a long-range shot by Lincoln was dealt with by the goalkeeper.

In the 41st minute, Sporting CP opened the scoring. Pedro Gonçalves' cross from the left was not cleared by Santa Clara's Paulo Henrique, and the ball reached Tabata for him to convert.

In stoppage time, Porro had the chance to make it 2-0 after a cross by Nuno Santos, but Paulo Henrique this time managed to send it out for a corner.

The second half began with another opportunity for Sporting CP: After receiving a pass from  Gonçalves, Sarabia forced Ricardo Fernandes to make two saves in a row.

Five minutes later, a cross by Nuno Santos was met by Porro, who broke free from Ricardinho and appeared at the far post to double the lead.

Sarabia got his goal a further five minutes later, from another cross from the left. This time Gonçalves was the provider, and the Spaniard, with only Ricardo Fernandes to beat, put away the chance. It was to be his final goal before returning to PSG at the end of his loan spell.

Amorim then started to make changes, taking off Bruno Tabata and João Palhinha for Marcus Edwards and Manuel Ugarte. Soon after, Sarabia - the most applauded player on a night of strong support for all of the team- went off to make way for Rodrigo Ribeiro.

The young forward could have extended the lead, with his shot taking a deflection and ending up going over CD Santa Clara's goal. Gonçalves then had two consecutive opportunities to go wide.

Marcus Edwards had better luck, scoring soon after with a left footed shot from distance, slammed into the top corner to make it 4-0.

Sebastián Coates and João Virgínia were then withdrawn and José Marsà - in his full for the first team - and André Paulo were brought on.

With no more goals, Sporting CP concluded the season with a rout in what was their 27th triumph in the competition this season. They also had four draws and three defeats, scored 73 goals and conceded 23. Second position in the table takes them directly into the Group Stage of the Champions League next season.

The coach previews the season finale against CD Santa Clara

Sporting Clube de Portugal will face CD Santa Clara this Saturday (8:30pm local time), at the Estádio José Alvalade, on the 34th and final Matchday of the Liga Portugal season.

In the runup to the game, coach Rúben Amorim analysed the team from the Azores and stressed that his side will “take advantage of every minute of play to grow as a team."

“We're going to do that against opponents who defend well and have improved a lot under Mário Silva. They're used to not losing games and they have quality players. Therefore, I foresee a difficult match -even although its without great responsibility- for both teams. We are Sporting CP and we want to give a good showing in the last game for the fans," he began by telling journalists.

"We wanted to score 88 points, but we can only reach 85 and that is the objective."
Asked about his assessment of the season, on a scale of 0-10, Amorim was peremptory in stating that “in football, it's all or nothing."

“Either you win and it's 10, or you don't win and it's 0. I don't like to give a number because there can be different interpretations, but we didn't win Liga Portugal so it's 0."
He also took stock of his own performance as coach during the season.

“I have to improve in a lot of things, whether in the way I approach the games, in my understanding of the game or how I react in moments of pressure. But all this grows with experience. When I say that the team have evolved this season and that the difference compared to last year is a big one, it also comes from the coach's experience. The coach the game differently now and knows the players better. I need to grow in everything, just like coaches with a 20-year career behind them."

Finally, Amorim surprised those present by revealing the starting XI for the last game of the season. 

“João Virgínia, Nuno Santos, Gonçalo Inácio, Sebastián Coates, Luís Neto, Pedro Porro, Daniel Bragança, João Palhinha, Pedro Gonçalves, Sarabia and Tabata will play."