The Futsal Supercup might have been the main event, but Sporting’s president, Frederico Varandas, had bigger news to share. He used the quiet moments off the pitch to talk about the recent transfer window. The biggest story, he said, wasn’t a new signing. It was a player who chose to stay.
Varandas spoke highly of Morten Hjulmand, the team captain. Hjulmand turned down countless offers from other clubs. These offers would have paid him triple his current salary. After talks with the club’s leadership, Morten decided to stay for another year. Sporting managed to keep Hjulmand, a key player for them.
This wasn’t an isolated case. Varandas revealed that Trincão was set to move to Saudi Arabia. Gonçalo Inácio was also on his way to Saudi Arabia. Diomande seemed destined for Crystal Palace. Yet, all these players remained with Sporting. The club kept its core group intact, which was the main goal. Varandas emphasized that Sporting didn’t finish third or second last season. He proudly stated that “the Sporting locker room is a championship-winning locker room!” He believes any new player joining must be better than their current championship-winning talents. He named Trincão, Pote, Morten, and Inácio as examples of these top-tier players.
Varandas assured everyone that the squad is now stronger than it was last season. He pointed to the team’s growing market value as proof. He referred to Transfermarkt, a reliable tool for club values. Last year, Sporting had the most valuable squad in the league. Now, after the recent transfer window, they still hold that top spot. Their squad is worth about €80 million more than the second-place team. It’s also worth roughly €100 million more than the third-place team. This shows the club’s success in holding onto its valuable players.