Iván Fresneda says Rui Borges' departure left him sad, but Sporting CP are already working on a renewal that could extend his deal from 2028 to 2031. The 22-year-old right-back is still with Spain's Under-21s, and the club want the agreement concluded no later than December, with the official announcement expected in 2026.

Fresneda on Borges, Fonseca and the renewal

Speaking to A Bola, Fresneda said Borges always trusted him from the first minute and gave him the chance to feel like a footballer again. He also said Paulo Fonseca's start has gone smoothly, pointing out that Sporting won their last game after only two and a half days of training with the new coach.

"It was a situation that left me a little sad, because Rui always trusted me from the first minute and gave me the opportunity to feel like a footballer again. We had a lot of rapport, but in football results are what count," Fresneda said.

The move to accelerate talks fits Sporting's view of him as a regular part of the side. He has 11 league appearances this season and 4 goal contributions, which is a decent return from right-back. His 7.16 league rating also sits well above his 6.59 mark in the Champions League.

Why Sporting want to move quickly

Barcelona links have only added to the interest around him. Fresneda said the name-check gives him pride and extra motivation, while also confirming that he is under contract until 2028 and happy at the club.

"It gives me a lot of pride. The fact that my name is linked to that kind of club gives me even more strength and desire to keep doing things well at my club, with which I have a contract until 2028 and where I feel very happy," he said.

Sporting want to reward the progress and protect the player at the same time. He has already made his senior Spain debut, and his rise has come after a difficult first year and a half in Lisbon because of injury and limited minutes. Fresneda said the mental work helped him turn that spell around, and Sporting now want the next contract in place before the year ends.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →