When Rui Patrício left Sporting earlier this year, there was a risk that he could be considered a villain by exiting through the back door.
By rescinding his contract with the club, the player became an enemy of president Bruno de Carvalho, who made public statements trying to put the goalkeeper against the fans.
But the story had a different outcome, as Carvalho is now being investigated for ordering the attacks against his own players, including Patrício. The evidence now makes clear that the Wolves player wasn’t wrong after all.
And it seems the impression Patrício has at Sporting is pretty good. Because this week, one of the goalkeepers in the squad has talked about how much the Wolves player still means to him.
“I never had a favourite goalkeeper, but one that marked me was Rui Patrício. My dream was always to be where he was. Even at times when he was criticised.”
“I always had the dream of being like him. When Sporting were interested in me he even sent me one of his shirts. We talk a lot. Friends stay forever.”
Despite not winning any league titles for Sporting, Patrício is one of the most important players in the club’s history, with 460 appearances for the Lions.
