Esgaio saga takes twist, but Sporting plot surprise solution

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Leonino

·26 August 2025

Esgaio saga takes twist, but Sporting plot surprise solution

Ricardo Esgaio may, after all, remain at Sporting for the 2025/26 season. Since the end of the last season, it was speculated that the right-back would leave the Alvalade Club, given the scarce use of the player by Rui Borges, but several factors have changed and the player's destiny may indeed be to stay with the green and white team.

Since his arrival at Sporting, Rui Borges has sought to sign a right-back who would provide guarantees, which happened with the arrival of Vagiannidis to the Club. This fact made Ricardo Esgaio lose even more space in the coach's options, as, ahead of the Portuguese in the coach's list of preferences, there is still Iván Fresneda.

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Even with the departure of Diogo Travassos to Moreirense, the situation did not change, and the truth is that Ricardo Esgaio was very close to joining Corinthians, having even negotiated the termination of his contract with Sporting. The deal ultimately fell through due to debts of the Brazilian club, and the Portuguese international remained in Portugal.

Without new interested parties, Sporting made a decision, according to A Bola, and showed itself available for the player's continuation. This possible outcome has the approval of Rui Borges, who, despite knowing that he will not give many minutes to Ricardo Esgaio, considers the player a very important element in the management of the green and white locker room.

In addition, Esgaio's seniority at the Club is also a factor: he has already spent 17 seasons with the lion on his chest, something that is seen as an added value at the Alvalade Club, due to his ability to transmit the values of Sporting to the elements with less time at the Club. Even with his contract ending next summer, the lions are willing to keep the right-back for another season.

Watch this video of Esgaio in the celebrations of Sporting's bicampeonato:

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.