Islam Slimani will be throughly missed by fans of Sporting. The Algerian international had gradually worked his way into Sporting hearts, not least helped by his knack of scoring against rivals FC Porto.
Indeed, Slimani did the same thing last weekend in his final match for Sporting, and at the end he couldn’t keep the tears in, knowing that his exit from the club was almost certainly imminent.
Joining Leicester City, Slimani will get the chance to play against again Porto soon, thanks to the Premier League champions drawing the team in the Champions League.
Portuguese newspaper O Jogo carry a message from Slimani to his still adoring Sporting fans: ‘It is with a bitter taste that I write this message to you, Sporting fans who supported me, cheered my name and cheered in the stands.
‘You live in my heart and will stay there forever. My experience at this club, that is family to me, allowed me to progress and climb higher and higher, and it’s all thanks to you.
‘I also wanted to thank all my teammates for these beautiful years, my brothers with whom I shared wonderful times and wish the best for the future, the coaches who trusted me, to all medical and technical staff. I will be a Lion forever.’
