Sometimes, the hardest part of football isn’t winning games. It’s moving players who don’t fit the plan anymore. St. Juste finds himself in just such a spot at Sporting. The club’s attempt to find him a new team has hit snag after snag. What seemed like a clear path has turned into a tangled mess.
First, there was talk with Osasuna. That move didn’t happen. Now, a potential transfer to Union Berlin looks to be heading down the same road. Sporting’s management, known as SAD, actually agreed on a transfer fee with the German club. The deal was set for a little over 2 million euros. It seemed like a win-win situation for everyone involved.
But even with the clubs shaking hands on a price, the transfer stumbled. The sticking point, much like with the Spanish side, came down to the defender’s pay packet. St. Juste’s salary demands proved too high for Union Berlin. This player is not in Rui Borges’ plans for the team. Yet, his wages keep him tied to a club where he won’t see much action. This makes his departure extremely difficult to arrange.