Sporting launch attack on Wolverhampton Wanderers for signing of Patricio
Sporting submit a remarkable 63-page document to FIFA detailing their complaints regarding Rui Patricio's move to the newly-promoted English side, demanding significant punishment for Wolves as a result.
The goalkeeper, 30, has already signed for Wolves on a four-year contract, having unilaterally terminated his contract with Sporting in the aftermath of the violent scenes at Sporting's training ground. However, Sporting are seeking compensation for his services, and are willing to take proceedings to court should they not reach a settlement.
Portugal's number one goalkeeper, who played every minute of the national side's World Cup campaign, looked set to sign for Napoli earlier in the summer window, but after the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti at the Italian outfit, alternative goalkeepers were sought out instead, opening the door for Wolves.
Sporting suggest that appropriate punishment would be a transfer ban for Nuno Espirito Santo's side, under the impression that Patricio was influenced to rescind his contract by his new club and did not have suitable grounds to terminate his ties Sporting, and further believe that Patricio should be prevented from playing for Wolves for 6 months.
Further to that, Sporting are looking to receive £48million from Wolverhampton Wanderers as compensation, which would cover the value of Patricio's previous contract with Sporting and his current market value, despite having been willing to accept an offer of £20million earlier in the transfer window.
Whether Sporting is expecting their demands to be met or if they are simply setting the bar suitably high in order to receive a more realistic level of compensation is another matter, and the likelihood of Sporting's extreme valuation of Patricio being met is slim. However, it is still expected that the two clubs will manage to reach a financial agreement to prevent the situation spiralling further.