Real Madrid left back Fabio Coentrao has rejected rumours he is set to sign for Portuguse outfit Sporting Lisbon.
Stories in Portugal have suggested the defender will end his four year stay at the Santiago Bernabeu to return to his homeland. But the former Benfica man took to his Facebook page to deny any imminent transfer.
He added that if he ever were to go back to play in Portugal, it would be for Benfica and not one of their main rivals.
Coentrao wrote: “I wish to deny the rumours that I’m joining Sporting. Despite the respect I have for all Portuguese clubs, the only Portuguese club I’d play for are Benfica.”
The Portugal international was signed in 2011 for 30 million euros by then manager Jose Mourinho. He has struggled for first team football in recent seasons however and finds himself behind Marcelo in the pecking order at the 10-time Champions League winners.
While a move to Sporting may be off, it is likely Coentrao will leave Los Blancos this summer in search of regular football. He came close to leaving the club two summers ago on loan to Manchester United. The transfer fell through at the eleventh hour, leaving Coentrao reportedly in tears.
