Aston Villa are likely keeping Geny Catamo firmly on their radar again. Sporting CP certainly think so.
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the winger’s return from the Africa Cup of Nations has pushed him straight back into the shop window, at a time when the club are already looking ahead to the summer market.
Catamo missed Sporting’s last five matches due to international duty. However, he returned with his reputation enhanced.
Playing for Mozambique, the 24-year-old featured in four AFCON matches. He scored twice and added one assist, helping his country reach the quarter-finals for the first time in their history. That run only strengthened the feeling that his profile now goes beyond the Portuguese league.
Exit on table, Aston Villa in mix
Aston Villa were among the clubs who tried to sign Catamo last summer, alongside Fenerbahçe. Both explored deals around €20m. Sporting felt that figure was not enough at the time and refused to sell.
Now, the situation looks slightly different. While renewal talks are ongoing, A Bola report that a summer departure is a strong possibility. A fee in the region of €20m is described as a realistic negotiating base, despite his growing importance on the pitch.
Renewal talks slow down as timing changes
Sporting had hoped to finalise a new contract before Catamo left for AFCON. That did not happen. Since then, the urgency has cooled, mainly because his current deal runs until June 2028.
An extension remains planned. The proposal includes a deal until 2030, a salary increase and a release clause rising from €60m to €80m. Still, the club are relaxed about timing and see no problem in keeping him as a key option now, before reassessing the market later.
Winter boost now, transfer pressure later
For Rui Borges, Catamo is viewed internally as a “winter signing” after returning from international duty. He is expected to play an important role in the title run-in.
However, with his AFCON performances still fresh and Premier League interest never far away, Sporting know pressure will return. If Aston Villa decide to move again, the belief in Portugal is that it may not take much more than €20m to bring the discussion back to life.
