The Portuguese media can’t find a consensus regarding the price of Rui Patrício from Sporting.
After French radio claimed Arsenal would be keen on signing the goalkeeper for €15m, newspaper Record came out with a story saying he would only be sold for something close to his €45m release clause.
However, A Bola has a response today, and say the minimum price for Sporting to open talks is €20m.
€25m between the two Portuguese figures – That’s quite a difference.
To be fair to A Bola, they’re just backing up their claims from earlier this month, when Everton and Manchester City were interested in Patrício and the newspaper claimed they should pay €20m.
The extra €5m could be due to alleged added interest, from Arsenal.
Arsenal would have to make the Euro 2016 winner first choice because, as claimed by Record, the player wants to have a starting spot guaranteed at any club who buys him.
Today, Record have also managed to ask the Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho about the possibility of a transfer, and the official said: “He’s a reference at Sporting. A great goalkeeper and a very important element in the changing room.
“When we renewed [until 2022], the intention was that he ends his career at Sporting. And that’s ours as well: we want Patrício to finish his career here.”
It’s hard to work out why this story continues to be push, and covered so heavily in France and Portugal.
Arsenal don’t especially need a new goalkeeper, Patrício isn’t pushing to leave, and Sporting aren’t pushing to sell him.
