Sport
Opinion
Opinion by João Rosado. Alvalade’s farewell makes Sporting’s president more comfortable than ever.
Carlos Rodrigues
If there aren’t two without three, Pep Guardiola will lose his first classic with Rúben Amorim today. In Alvalade, in the most awaited farewell of the year, Manchester City presents itself after two consecutive defeats and with some important losses in defense, highlighted by the absence of another Rúben, the former Benfica player Dias.
In addition to the Portuguese international, John Stones will also be missing from the four-time English champions, who were defeated four days ago at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium due to a goal from former Porto player Evanilson when they were still digesting the defeat in London imposed by Tottenham and counting for the Carabao. Cup.
The current form of the “citizen” replicates with great accuracy what happened about a year ago, in September 2023. At the end of that month, a goal from Alexander Isak (Viktor Gyokeres’ preferred partner in the Swedish national team) gave Newcastle scored a tasty third-round League Cup triumph, with Wolverhampton, 72 hours later, using part of the proceeds to win 2-1 in the championship challenge.
The loss of 3 points against the Wolves on September 30, 2023 and the negative outcome recorded last Saturday are not enough for Guardiola to reach the mark of… 40 defeats in the Premier League in eight years of consulate, which says everything about the Catalan’s crushing career and at the same time leaves very interesting clues to the future “boss” of Manchester United.
THERE WAS A SCARFF
Despite having warned fans about the “completely different world” that awaits them later in the evening, the coach who fills the sporting agenda knows how rare, if not to say very rare, periods of turbulence at City are, and it is up to him to explore the precept the abnormality that characterizes the overrated Champions League opponent.
On the other hand, the players with the greatest influence on the team are not unaware of the equally rare opportunity to prove themselves at the level of Matheus Nunes, who this time are visiting. In addition to a duel like never before between two figures who could mark an era of intense rivalry in Manchester, the meeting that will serve as a general rehearsal on December 15th (City-United at the Ethiad) will allow us to assess who of the Leo titleholders benefits from effective conditions to think about a move to the new house in Amorim or… to the new mansion of Hugo Viana, the announced replacement for Txiki Begiristáin.
According to data provided by “Transfermarkt”, in recent decades Manchester United has invested around 130 million euros in Alvalade’s coffers, with Cristiano Ronaldo inaugurating the transfer list in 2003 at a cost of 19 million euros. Given the success achieved with the greatest goalscorer on the planet (six years later he transferred to Real Madrid for 94 million euros), the “Red Devils” progressively acquired Nani (for 25 million euros in 2007/08), Marcos Rojo (payment of 20 million in 2014/15) and finally Bruno Fernandes, hired in 2019/20 in exchange for a sum (65 million) that remains a green and white record.
Dave Thompson/AP
Ten plus ten out Ten Hag
As can be seen, the cheapest of those who went directly to Old Trafford represented an investment that doubled Rúben Amorim’s release clause, although the transfer history of Erik Ten Hag’s successor places him in the financial plane reached by Rojo 10 years ago. When Frederico Varandas and Hugo Viana decided to sign a promise that had not yet reached a dozen matches in the first national division, Sporting de Braga made a profit of 10 million euros in the first phase… to the general surprise and to the protagonist himself of a rise as meteoric as it was brilliant.
In round numbers, the coach leaves for the price he entered but with the extraordinary difference of having provided unforgettable titles to a club that in the last 50 seasons has won six championships, a third of which were achieved in the six seasons under the guidance of the same person. who admitted that eight days ago he received the only invitation that affected the stability so atypical of current times.
The way he revolutionized the competitive logic in Portugal, breaking the bipolarity between Benfica and FC Porto, made him repay the president’s fearless bet with very high interest, to the point that he has never experienced a phase of as much comfort as he has now. Not even when he was re-elected with 86 percent of the votes did Frederico Varandas benefit from such a favorable context and so capable of withstanding any result within the four lines.
TIAGO PETINGA
For the first time since taking office, the Sporting leader is safe from shots that take the ball away from the opponent’s goal. Not only did he put a renewal proposal on the table (before the interest of the English was announced) but he also managed to raise another million euros and extend the coach’s stay until the important trip to Braga, in the meantime buying time to prepare the presentation of the Mr. next.
No Sporting fan, no matter how much it costs him to leave the man at the helm in the middle of the trip, will be able to point the finger at the administration in the event of failure to revalidate the title. Bound by a termination clause that any professional would require, the leader of the first placed team in the Portuguese League saw United’s rescue fall from the sky, an operation that in practice translated into the offer of an umbrella the size of the World.
In case of failure, Rúben Amorim will bear the burden and the blame will be addressed to Manchester. In the case of a new giant party in May 2025, the Marquês will be small to pay tribute to the magic of the president who overcame the losses of the sporting director and the coach.
And if there are not two without three, we will see in the winter market who will be willing to beat the 100 million clause of the insatiable Gyokeres.
Eurasia Sport Images
A pittance, compared to the blank check that Amorim gave to Varandas.
