Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Man City transfer news: Sporting star drops hint about wanting to play for Pep Guardiola

sportsmole.co.uk, 13 November 2024, 23:18
Sporting Lisbon wing-back Maximiliano Araujo has hinted that he hopes to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in the near future.

Araujo was part of the Sporting side that comprehensively beat Guardiola's Man City side 4-1 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the Champions League last week.

The 24-year-old scored the goal that put Sporting ahead early in the second half, in what was Ruben Amorim's penultimate game in charge, before now moving to City's rivals Manchester United.

Araujo has only been at the club for just over two months, after being a late signing in the summer transfer window, joining from Toluca in a deal worth €13.6m (£11.25m).

The versatile player has already become a regular in the side, often being utilised as a left wing-back, but he has also proven capable of playing as an outright winger in the absence of Pedro Goncalves.

Already a full Uruguayan international, Araujo has also featured in a central striking role on occasion in recent games for La Celeste, and has three international goals since making his debut last year.

Araujo keen on Premier League move?

After joining up with the Uruguay squad for the upcoming international break, Araujo was asked by reporters in a press conference about the win over Man City, and how it felt to beat a team assembled by Guardiola.

Initially, Araujo gave a rather tongue-in-cheek response to being asked whether he would like to play for Man City under Guardiola.

With a wry smile, Araujo responded: "I hope so, I hope so..."

The player then seemed to downplay the comments, as he continued: "I asked him [Guardiola] for a photo, we talked for a few minutes and he congratulated me. I'm very happy about that. We talked about the game, nothing more."

Fire sale to come at Sporting?

Araujo was not the only player who caught the eye in Sporting's impressive win over the Premier League champions last week, and some of their league-winning squad from last season may be getting more attention now after starring on the continent.

Viktor Gyokeres is the most-talked-about striker in Europe at the moment, and his hat trick against Man City has only seen his stocks skyrocket further, with 27 goals for club and country already this season.

On the opposite flank to Araujo, teenager Geovany Quenda also impressed at wing-back, and has already received a call up to the senior Portugal squad at just 17 years of age.

Just ahead of the Uruguayan on the left, Goncalves played an integral part in the second goal, showing fine footwork before setting up Araujo to finish, and he was the man who netted an astonishing goal from the halfway line at the Emirates in the Europa League 18 months ago, while continuing to hit double figures for both goals and assists each season.

Sporting will return to action in their first game following the departure of Amorim when they face fourth-tier Amarante in the Taca de Portugal on the first Friday back after the international break.

Top News

21 November 2024 talksport.com Gary Neville has lifted the lid on his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo following the Portuguese star's infamous pitchside snub. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT.com is here to keep you up to date with all the latest news from the Premier League and beyond. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Ed Sheeran persuaded one major signing to join Ipswich this summer by speaking to him moments before joining Taylor Swift on stage. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Forget Usain Bolt, some of the fastest athletes on the planet are strutting their stuff in the Premier League. 21 November 2024 talksport.com John Terry has lifted the lid on the days after his infamous slip in the 2008 Champions League final. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh from a two-week hiatus corresponding with the November international break, promotion-chasing Mansfield Town host mid-table Bristol Rovers in Saturday afternoon's League One scrap. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking a seventh Serie A win on the spin, Atalanta BC will aim to pick up where they left off before the break when travelling to Parma on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to pick up where they left off before the international break, Liverpool resume their Premier League title quest away to Southampton on Sunday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of six sides within two points of the Serie A summit, reigning champions Inter Milan continue their title defence on Saturday, when they visit Hellas Verona. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After one of the darkest days in the club's history last week, Lyon will seek to keep their attention on footballing matters when they travel to face Reims in Ligue 1 on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ligue 1 conjures up an early-season relegation six-pointer on Saturday, when Saint-Etienne welcome Montpellier HSC to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With all eyes fixed on the January transfer market, clubs around the UK and Europe are already lining up potential mid-season moves. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saturday evening will see Lens welcome Marseille to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in one of the standout games in Ligue 1 this weekend. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Portuguese third-tier outfit Amarante face arguably the toughest challenge of in Taca de Portugal fourth round as they journey to the Estadio Jose Alvalade to take on Sporting Lisbon on Friday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A new Copa Sudamericana champion will be crowned on Saturday at Estadio General Pablo Rojas in Paraguay as Racing Club and Cruzeiro seek to lift the trophy for the first time. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly pencilled in a potential return date for defender David Alaba. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has reportedly backed the club's bid to bring Lille midfielder Angel Gomes back to Old Trafford. 20 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City attacker Jack Grealish was among four injury concerns who were pictured in training on Wednesday. 20 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk As the international break comes to a close, Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich are set host to bottom-half Augsburg on Friday at Allianz Arena in their 11th league game of the season. 20 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Curtis Jones has shown traits more closely aligned to that of Andres Iniesta rather than Steven Gerrard during his time under Arne Slot, Liverpool expert David Lynch has claimed. 20 November 2024 talksport.com Juan Mata has made history by investing in new MLS outfit San Diego FC. 20 November 2024 talksport.com Police were called to the home of Francesco Totti after he was accused of leaving his eight-year-old daughter home alone by his estranged wife. 20 November 2024 talksport.com There's something a little off about a picture Luke Humphries shared of him posing with Roy Keane. 20 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly at the head of the queue for Rosenborg's Sverre Nypan, but the attacker allegedly wants assurances over game time before committing to join the 20-time English champions. 20 November 2024 talksport.com The USMNT are showing signs of progress under Mauricio Pochettino after a tough summer. 20 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly been handed an injury boost ahead of the return of club football this weekend, with Lamine Yamal said to be back in full training. 20 November 2024 talksport.com Gary Neville has lifted the lid on his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo following the Portuguese star's infamous pitchside snub. 20 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams struggling towards the bottom of the La Liga table will lock horns on Friday night, with Getafe welcoming Real Valladolid to Estadio Coliseum. 20 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have appealed against the seven-game domestic ban handed out to midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur. 20 November 2024 talksport.com Glenn Hoddle believes Dejan Kulusevski has been Tottenham's best player 'by a mile' this season.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon