With a wide smile on his face, Matías Fernández, former Sporting midfielder who shone for the green and white between 2009 and 2012, paid a visit to the Alvalade club’s facilities, first the Academy and then the stadium, and did not hide his emotion in the words when remembering the years with a lion on his chest. Matigol, as he became affectionately known among the Leo universe, remembered the entire journey and guarantees that, even from a distance, in Chile, he follows the national champion whenever he can.
“I want to play again. It makes me want to go back. I can remember everything. I thought I got here a long time ago [ao Sporting] in 2009, I left in 2012, we are in 2024 and so much time has passed… 12 years. And people continue to care for me and remember me. It’s something that fills me with pride. It excites me to return here and to the stadium, where we had a great time. We also went through difficult times, but I have many good memories. I’m happy to be here, I hadn’t been here in a long time, and to receive the affection from everyone I haven’t been with for a while. There are many joys”, began by taking on the 38-year-old former Chilean international, who scored 19 goals in 116 matches for Sporting. In Alvalade he became an idol in the stands and Matías himself does not forget that feeling. “Songs? Of course, I remember it so well. There were two chants, ‘Matigol, Matigol, Matigol’ and ‘Matías Fernández, Matías Fernández’! I continue to pay attention to Sporting. In Chile, it’s difficult to watch the games, but when they come on, I try to watch. I know they were champions and that they are doing very well. That’s why I’m very happy. I still have everything. The other day, I was looking for some things with my children and I had everything from Sporting, the lion, shirts… So, I’m very happy”, recalled the former midfielder, speaking to Sporting TV, after having paid a visit to the Academy and then to the José Alvalade Stadium, coming across, among other trophies, the Lions’ national champion’s cup at the Sporting Museum.
At the lions’ headquarters, where Amorim prepared this Friday’s trip to Portimão in the Portuguese Cup, the former number 14 of the green and whites met João Pereira, now coach of the club’s B team and with whom he shared the four lines while a footballer at Sporting, as well as the mythical equipment technician Paulinho, and also met the cast and all the staff of the current main team.
“When I hear Sporting, I only think about the best memories. The way everyone treated me, the affection, my family who always loved Lisbon… My daughter was born in Lisbon, so I have the best memories. And, now that Sporting It’s so good, I’m very happy”, highlighted the former creative, currently working at a football academy in Chile. Furthermore, in a recent interview with Chilean publications, Matías Fernández himself had assumed that he would come to Portugal to review everything surrounding Sporting, a club where he has good memories, in addition to trying to reach an agreement for a talent exchange with the academy where I work. in Chilean football.
The reunions took place this Thursday, with Matías marking this trip through photographs in Alvalade, as he even posed with Sporting’s 2025/25 home shirt, as well as using the new ‘Stromp’ equipment that will be debuted at the Friday against Portimonense.
