Yahoo News Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim opens up on Abdul Fatawu to Leicester City transfer
Sporting Lisbon expect Abdul Fatawu’s transfer to Leicester City to go through without a hitch with the Portuguese club happy to take the money for the winger despite his obvious talent.
Fatawu has been one of the hits of City’s season on the right flank, thrilling supporters with his speed, quick feet, and defensive effort, the Ghanaian contributing six goals and 13 assists to the Championship title win. The 20-year-old was named the winner of the club’s young player of the season award this week.
Portuguese media reported at the time of Fatawu’s loan switch to the King Power Stadium that the deal would become permanent for a €17m fee (£14.5m) if City rose to the Premier League and if he played enough matches. However, City have since been placed under a transfer embargo by the EFL amid concerns they will breach Profit and Sustainability regulations for this season.
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It is not expected that the embargo will continue when City officially transfer to the Premier League’s governance, and that will give them free rein to sign players. Albeit, they must still bear in mind financial restrictions as they continue to deal with the fallout from £182m they have lost over the past two sets of accounts.
In Portugal, Sporting are already preparing for Fatawu’s official departure. Their manager Ruben Amorim has wished him well and explained how the club plan to use the money they receive.
“He is a player with a lot of talent, but sometimes team dynamics and coaches cannot bring out the best in players,” Amorim said. “Sometimes they change teams and become the players we believed they could be. That's why we went for him and made an investment in him.
“We're going to make money from it. Our project ends there. Players who don't adapt so much here, but with talent, will move to other places and give us added value. And these gains, little by little, can help us keep the best players. I am very happy for Fatawu, he has always behaved very well here.”
Fatawu is finishing the season on a high, not only because of the team’s achievements and his personal accolade at the club’s awards do, but with his form on the pitch. He’s got three goals and three assists in his last three games.
“I’m feeling so happy,” Fatawu said this week. “It’s an amazing moment. This is a season I can’t forget. I’m just feeling so happy. We were always working towards the promotion and it feels amazing to get to what we wanted. Everyone is happy and that’s what we wanted to achieve. It feels so great.”
