Following the training ground attack in May, nine players have quit the club for pastures new. Former president Sousa Cintra is in temporary charge until elections are held in September.
Sinisa Mihajlovic, Bruno de Carvalho’s managerial appointment, was sacked after nine days and has been replaced by José Peseiro, who has returned for his second spell at the club.
Portugal keeper Rui Patrício, who joined Wolverhampton Wanderers after walking out on Sporting, is now embroiled in a large compensation claim.
The Lions are chasing the Wolves for 57 million euros, stating that the 30-year-old “broke his contract” when he joined the newly promoted side in June, and have taken their claim to FIFA.
Another departure is William Carvalho, who has joined Real Betis, the La Liga outfit announced on their website. Portugal international Carvalho has agreed to terms with the Sevilla club on a five- year deal, after having been linked with a move to West Ham during the summer transfer window.
Another Sporting player who might end up at West Ham is right-back Cristiano Piccini, who, according to reports, is also on the Manchester United radar.
Reports in Turkey claim both Premier League sides are ready to launch €20m bids, although they may have competition from Besiktas, but the Turkish club can only offer him a loan deal as they will fall foul of Financial Fair Play restrictions. Piccini played twenty-four times for Sporting last season and was a key figure during their Champions League and Europa League campaigns.
On the plus side, Bruno Fernandes, one of the nine players who quit, has rejoined the club.
The 23 year-old midfielder, he played eight times for Portugal, has signed until 2023 with a release clause set at €100m. He revealed that, despite receiving better offers from other clubs, he chose to return after Sporting guaranteed improved security for himself, other players and their families.
Former Manchester United winger Nani has returned to Sporting Lisbon for a third time, after signing a two-year deal with his former club for an undisclosed fee. 31-year-old Nani arrives from Spanish side Valencia, after spending last season on loan in Italy with Lazio, where he managed just eighteen appearances in Serie A.
Nani spent two previous spells with Sporting between 2005-2007 and 2014-2014, playing 113 times and scoring 23 goals for the club. Nani, valued at around five million euros, was under contract at Valencia until June 2019 and had been linked with a return to play for former club Fenerbahce in Turkey.
There are no doubt more twists and turns lying ahead as it is claimed by the Correio da Manhã newspaper that Sporting has apparently spent half a million euros annually on social media companies in an attempt to shift public opinion back in the club’s favour.
According to the paper, “this form of communication was fundamental to Bruno de Carvalho and to the ‘war’ against Benfica, and this was the way of spreading unconfirmed information, half truths or simple rumours.”