André Pinto breezes through pre-season medical

André Pinto was one of the first players called in for the usual pre-season medical exams. Proving to be in fine form, the central defender also took a moment to speak with the Sporting Journal: "A club like Sporting CP cannot accept anything but winning titles, both nationally and in Europe. We will go into every game looking to get the points. I am looking forward to the start of the season and hopefully everything will go well. This club lives for titles and I am here to contribute to that. I am looking forward to seeing Estádio José Alvalade packed out for us."

From 132 euros, including 25 matches from as little as 5.30€ per match

MY FIRST GAMEBOX
Product exclusively for members who have never had a Member Gamebox in the new Estádio José Alvalade. Sales start the 8th of July at the Official Club Store for Sector B5 (Central – Stand B) and are priced at 249€ (or 3 installments 83€).

TICKETS
Members who renew their Gamebox from last season by the 5th of July will receive 1 to 2 free tickets (2 for full payment or 1 for payment in installments). Tickets valid for Liga NOS 2017/2018, except for the following matches: SL Benfica, FC Porto and the first and last matches in Alvalade. Sporting Clube de Portugal reserves the right to suspend this campaign for other matches, or for members who have not fully paid for their Gamebox or membership fees. To take advantage of this offer, visit the stadium ticket offices during any ticket sale period.

CARDS
All cards for the 2017/2018 season are new issues and are a tribute to Fernando Peyroteo, who celebrates his centenary on the 10th of March 2018. All fans who renew their 2016/2017 Gamebox via the provided multibanco references will receive a new card via post at theri home address. Cards will be provided immediately to fans who renew at the Official Club Store.

DISCOUNTS
All children from the age of 3 (inclusive) to 11 (before the 31st of August 2017) can benefit from a special price of 90€ for any sector of Estádio José Alvalade. Additionally, youths (sub-23), women and seniors (over-65) can benefit from a 23% discount.

EASY PAYMENT
All Gameboxes can be paid in 3 interest-free payments. For renewals installments are due by the 5th of July, the 5th of August and the 5th of September. For new Gameboxes installments are due on the day of purchase and 30 and 60 days thereafter.

TRIBUTE
All Gamebox cards this season are printed as a tribute to Fernando Peyroteo to celebrate his centenary. The all time best goalscorer in Portuguese history spent months with the club, scoring 541 goals in 332 matches to forever record an unbeatable average of 1. gals per game.

INFORMATION
For any questions please call the Sporting Line 707 20 44 44 (workdays, from 10h to 20h) or visit the Official Sporting Store in Estádio José Alvalade (from 10h to 20h).

MATCHES INCLUDED
All 25 matches already expected in 2017/2018 are included: presentation match + Five Violins Trophy + 17 Liga NOS + Champions League Playoff + UEFA Group Stage (Champions League or Europa League) + 2 CTT Cup.

LIMIT(S)
Each club member can purchase one Gamebox. Multibanco references issued for renewals will expire at 23h59 on the 5th of July. Payment in installments is only available until the 30th of September 2017.

REDUCED MOBILITY
Wheelchair friendly places are located on the 2nd floor of the North Goal End Stand, with adapted toilet facilities also available. Member Gameboxes for fans with reduced mobility are priced as Gameboxes for Goal End Stand A, with one additional accompanying fan permitted.

NEW SALES
Tickets which were not sold last season will be available from the 21st of June to the 5th of July. All non-renewed tickets will go on sale on the 8th of July.

PRICES
A variety of prices are available for the 2017/2018 season, starting from 90€ and going to to 432€:

MEMBER FEES
Gameboxes are exclusively for Sporting Clube de Portugal members. While fees are not required to be paid up to date when purchasing a Gamebox, tickets are only valid when fees have been paid.

TRANSMISSION
If you can't make it to the match, then you can always borrow your Gamebox to a person in the same category.

Preparations announced for 2017-18 campaign

26th of June 2017
– Start of programme at the Sporting Academy

7th of July 2017
– Friendly match:
Sporting CP-FC Os Belenenses (Estádio do Algarve)

10th to 18th of July 2017
– Tour in Switzerland

Friendly matches in Switzerland
12th of July 2017 - Sporting CP – Fenerbahçe - Location: Renens – 20:30
13th of July 2017 - Sporting CP – CF Valencia – Location: Martigny – 20:30
15th of July 2017 - Sporting CP – FC Basel – Location: Portalban – 19:00
18th of July 2017 - Sporting Cp – Marseille – Lication: Annecy (France) – 20:00

22th of July 2017
– Presentation match
Sporting CP-TBC

TBC:
– Possibility of another friendly.

29th of July 2017
– Five Violins Trophy
Sporting CP – TBC – Estádio José Alvalade

Jefferson and Ricardo Esgaio

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Sporting Clube de Braga – Futebol, SAD for the temporary loan of Jefferson and the permanent transfer of Ricardo Esgaio, with Sporting CP maintaining 20% of the player's economic rights.

Sporting SAD wishes Jefferson and Ricardo Esgaio the best of personal and professional success.

Rodrigo Battaglia

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Sporting Clube de Braga – Futebol, SAD for the permanent transfer of the player Rodrigo Battaglia. The player has signed a contract valid for 5 seasons, with a release clause of 60,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Rodrigo Battaglia the best of professional and personal success.

Rúben Semedo

Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with Villarreal Club de Fútbol for the permanent transfer of the athlete Rúben Semedo. the agreement is worth 14,000,000.00€, with Sporting SAD also remaining with a 20% sell-on clause.

Sporting SAD wishes Rúben Semedo the best of personal and professional success.

Fernando Santos includes Alvalade five for Confederations Cup

The national team coach Fernando Santos has included a total of five Sporting CP players in his squad of 24 for the coming friendly, World Cup qualifier and Confederations Cup fixtures.

The five are Rui Patrício, Beto, William Carvalho, Adrien Silva and Gelson Martins, who will face Cyprus on the 3rd of June (friendly) and Lithuania (World Cup qualifier), before travelling to Russia for the Confederations Cup.

Refereeing Council vice-president João Ferreira in session with the media on the Video Assistant Referee

The Portuguese Football Federation hosted a questions and answer session with the press this week on the Video Assistant Referee, set to be introduced into Portuguese professional football (Liga NOS).

João Ferreira was on hand to explain the technology: "We don't want the Video Assistant Referee to be involved a lot, but when it does then it must benefit the game as much as possible." The system will be focused on four areas: goals (all goals will be analysed), penalties, direct red cards (red cards for two bookable offences will not be included) and the erroneous identification of a payer.

All stadiums will be linked up to an operations centre hosted in Portugal's City of Football, with the capacity to analyse four matches simultaneously by a team of 22 assistants.

"The idea is for things to carry on as normal, but knowing that everything is being looked at. The referee will ask for assistance (by signalling the shape of a rectangle in the air, in the shape of a television) and the players or coaches cannot interfere in the decision. Players or coaches cannot ask for a situation to be reviewed", explained João Ferreira.

The system will debut in the Portuguese Cup final, ahead of its full implementation for the 2017/18 Liga NOS season.

Alvalade keeper's Euro 2016 heroics immortalised

Leiria paid a moving tribute to Rui Patrício this week, unveiling a statue in tribute to one of the city's heroes. The moment forever captured is Patricío's Euro 2016 in Paris against Griezmann, crafted into a statue standing six metres tall and weighing in at four tonnes.

The statue is courtesy of the Portuguese businessman Carlos Matos, who declared during the final: "If Rui doesn't let in a single goal, I will make him a statue." Patrício was visibly moved by the tribute, affirming: "Leiria is with me when I am on the pitch. I represent my city and I try to do my best for them. I am really happy. I want this to serve as an example for young people who want to reach the top of whatever area they go into. Fight for your dreams, because it is with it."

Jorge Jesus on final day win

"We wanted to finish with a win and the fans came out for us again. I thought the lads were great today and found it easy to score", said Jorge Jesus after his side's 4-1 win against Chaves this Sunday.

Despite the win, Jesus saw this as a time for reflection on what was a tough season: "We finished with 70 points, which is 16 less than last season."

The Alvalade coach also took a moment to focus on two of his star performers: "Gelson used to be a very individual player, but now he gets involved with the rest of the team. He has really developed tactically throughout the season. We were hoping Bas Dost would win the Golden Boot, but Messi can score every which way. However it was a really important season for him and for Sporting CP."