Latest news with #RuiBorges


Metro
2 days ago
- Sport
- Metro
Viktor Gyokeres grilled over Arsenal transfer on FaceTime with former team-mate
Viktor Gyokeres refused to rule out a move to the Emirates when cornered by one of his old Arsenal-supporting team-mates during a FaceTime call this week. The 26-year-old striker has established himself one of the most sought-after attacking players in European football having scored 54 goals in 52 games to help steer Sporting to a domestic double this season. And while Sporting managed to fend off strong interest from a host of elite clubs to keep hold of Gyokeres in January, the Portuguese champions have grown increasingly resigned to losing their prized position. Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Juventus and Napoli have all been credited with a strong interest in Gyokeres in recent weeks, with the prolific forward reportedly available for a fee in the region of £60million. Atletico Madrid are the latest team to enter the running for Gyokeres' signature, placing the former Coventry City man at the top of their shortlist of targets this summer. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. But Arsenal have emerged as the leading contenders to strike a deal for Gyokeres as they look to strengthen their attack for next season – and club chiefs flew out to Lisbon to speak with the Swede's agent last week. With the window now officially open, Arsenal supporters are eagerly awaiting updates on the ever-evolving transfer saga – and Leo Ostigard tried his very best to give them some answers on the latest episode of the Flymoduspod podcast. Ostigard – a lifelong Arsenal fan himself – played alongside Gyokeres at Coventry and it's clear the pair are still close, with the Norwegian calling up his former team-mate in the middle of the recording. Podcast host You know I'm wondering, I know you can't say much about it, but Viktor, where are you going in the summer transfer window? Can you give us a hint? Is it Arsenal? Which three? What are the alternatives? Gyokeres Haha, no. We will see… nobody knows anything yet. I wish I had a more fun answer, but that's all I can say for now. Ostigard Viktor, great talking to you! See you soon and text me when everything is signed and sorted down in Arsenal. Gyokeres Yeah, yeah, sure. Gyokeres, who has largely remained tight-lipped amid the incessant gossip and rumour over his future, is tied into a contract with Sporting until June 2028. The Primeira Liga outfit stand to make make a tidy profit on Gyokeres given they signed the attacker from Coventry for a fee of just £16.7m two years ago. Sporting head coach Rui Borges remains relaxed about the situation and has stressed throughout the Gyokeres was 'very happy' in the Portuguese capital. Despite the uncertainty over his future, Gyokeres remains 'very happy' in the Portuguese capital according to Sporting's head coach Rui Borges. 'He is very happy here,' Borges told reporters after his side successfully defended their league title with a 2-0 victory over Vitoria Guimaraes. 'He is very connected to the game, he wants to score and he is obsessed with it.' Borges is confident there are no finer centre-forwards currently plying their trade in Europe. 'He is the best striker in Europe, as the numbers show,' Borges added. 'He will be attractive, but I believe that if he doesn't leave Sporting, he will remain very committed to the club. 'He feels very happy here.' Speaking to Metro courtesy of BetMGM, ex-Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder suggested a move to the Bernabeu could be a 'perfect match' for Gyokeres this summer. 'You have to pick a team which works for your playing style,' Sneijder said. 'At the moment, maybe Real [should consider signing him]. 'If it allows Kylian Mbappe to move back to the left then maybe it's a perfect match.' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Man Utd on alert as Randal Kolo Muani faces decision on his future MORE: Man Utd reignite interest in £40m striker they failed to sign two years ago MORE: Martin Keown tells Manchester United to replace Ruben Amorim with Liverpool legend


BBC News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Sporting beat Guimaraes to retain Primeira Liga title
Sporting pipped rivals Benfica to Portugal's Primeira Liga title after beating Guimaraes 2-0 on the final day of the Lisbon rivals started the day level on points but Sporting held top spot courtesy of a better head-to-head knew a win would seal a second successive title and goals from Pedro Goncalves and Viktor Gyokeres trailed at Braga after Rodrigo Martinez scored a penalty but Vangelis Pavlidis levelled in the second were reduced to 10 men shortly after conceding when Joao Moutinho was issued a second yellow card but Benfica were unable to find a is Sporting's 21st league title and the third time they have topped the table in the past five began the 2024-25 campaign with 12 successive wins but the departure of manager Ruben Amorim to Manchester United in November disrupted their Pereira, who replaced Amorim, lasted just 42 days in the post after winning only one of his four league games at the helm and three of eight fixtures across all Borges stepped in to steady the ship and guided Sporting to an unbeaten end to the season in the league, winning 13 and drawing six.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Benfica deny Sporting to take Portuguese title race to wire
Benfica held Sporting Lisbon to a tense 1-1 Lisbon derby draw on Saturday to take the Portuguese title race down to the final day. Both sides are tied on 79 points with one match remaining, with reigning champions Sporting set to triumph if they finish level, boasting a superior head-to-head record. Benfica and Sporting both had the chance to clinch the title on Saturday at the Estadio da Luz but their draw means the fate of the Primeira Liga will be decided on May 17. Trincao put Rui Borges' Sporting ahead in the fourth minute, but Kerem Akturkoglu levelled after 63 minutes after a brilliant run from Vangelis Pavlidis. Bruno Lage's Benfica visit Braga on the final day, while Sporting host Vitoria and will retain their crown should they equal or better their title rival's result. rbs/nf
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Benfica deny Sporting to take Portuguese title race to wire
Benfica held Sporting Lisbon to a tense 1-1 Lisbon derby draw on Saturday to take the Portuguese title race down to the final day. Both sides are tied on 79 points with one match remaining, with reigning champions Sporting set to triumph if they finish level, boasting a superior head-to-head record. Advertisement Benfica and Sporting both had the chance to clinch the title on Saturday at the Estadio da Luz but their draw means the fate of the Primeira Liga will be decided on May 17. Trincao put Rui Borges' Sporting ahead in the fourth minute, but Kerem Akturkoglu levelled after 63 minutes after a brilliant run from Vangelis Pavlidis. Bruno Lage's Benfica visit Braga on the final day, while Sporting host Vitoria and will retain their crown should they equal or better their title rival's result. rbs/nf


CNA
08-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Portuguese title on the line as Benfica host rivals Sporting
Sporting and Benfica lock horns in a Lisbon derby on Saturday that could decide the Portuguese league title with a game left in one of the closest races the country has seen in years. The Portuguese capital rivals both have 78 points, with Sporting top by virtue of winning the first clash between the teams 1-0 at the Jose Alvalade stadium back in December. If Sporting win on Saturday they will be champions, while if Benfica triumph by at least a two-goal margin they will reclaim the title with a superior head-to-head record. A one-goal victory for Benfica would mean the title being decided next weekend when goal difference could come into play, with Sporting currently three goals better off than Benfica. If the match is drawn, Sporting will retain the title by at least matching their rival's result on the final matchday. With third-placed Porto long out of the title race, trailing 13 points behind the top two and level on 65 points with Braga, the Lisbon rivalry between Benfica and Sporting has dominated the campaign and not only in the league. Benfica beat Sporting on penalties in the League Cup final in January and they will meet again at the iconic Jamor National Stadium in the Portuguese Cup final on May 25. It will be a clash of two coaches who took charge of struggling sides in mid-season and got them back on track. Rui Borges in late December replaced Joao Pereira, who lasted only 42 days after he was named Sporting manager following Ruben Amorim's move to Manchester United. Amorin left Sporting in comfortable position at the top but a series of bad results forced the club to make a quick change and hire the 43-year-old Borges from Vitoria Guimaraes. Sporting were already feeling the heat from Bruno Lage's Benfica, who was hired in September for a second tenure after Roger Schmidt was fired only four matchdays into the season.