Rui Patricio’s Wolves situation looks like it could be close to a conclusion.
Whilst the Portuguese press has claimed similar previously, this time feels different because Sporting are somewhat backed into a corner and can’t be quite as cocky about the situation as they may have been initially.
Several former Sporting officials are facing accusations of involvement in the training ground attacks which led to Patricio and others rescinding their contracts. Record report that one such official, Bruno Jacinto, is in ‘pre-trial detention’ and during interrogation he implicated others.
This all means Patricio cancelling his contract for ‘just cause’ is receiving further backing and if Sporting push their luck too far they could end up with nothing.
Record say Jorge Mendes is being crucial to the deal, and the slant is one of him doing Sporting a favour, although it’s not said he’ll be giving any of the money he’s due from the deal.
Wolves had originally agreed to sign Patricio for €18m, and Mendes was due €6-8m as payment from previous negotiations. The Lisbon club had essentially mortgaged part of a future Patricio transfer fee to avoid paying Gestifute at the time of Adrien Silva’s renewal and other business.
Just before the €18m deal was concluded, the club’s then president, Bruno de Carvalho, refused to pay Gestifute, and everything collapsed… with the goalkeeper cancelling his contract soon after and signing for Wolves as a free agent.
The ‘last details’ are now being sorted out to agree an €18m fee, the original figure, and Sporting president Frederico Varandas is expected in London on Tuesday to finalise things.
Mendes has ‘contributed a lot’ to help the agreement happen, using his good Wolves contacts to make sure Sporting aren’t left empty handed, explain Record.
It’s all quite a new slant.
