Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham have spent weeks being linked with Maxi Araújo. Sporting received a boost earlier this month when the player openly spoke about wanting to stay.
A couple of weeks later, the picture is a little less straightforward.
The Uruguay international is enjoying an excellent World Cup and, after another standout performance, offered a more cautious response when asked about his future.
From “I want to stay” to “you never know”
Araújo was one of Uruguay’s key players again in the 2-2 draw against Cape Verde. The Sporting wide man scored once and provided an assist. His World Cup tally is now two goals and one assist in just two matches.
His performances are doing exactly what Sporting feared they might do – attracting even more attention from clubs already keeping a close eye on him.
But what makes the latest development interesting is the contrast with comments he made earlier this month. Araújo seemed to strongly back the idea of remaining in Lisbon.
“My idea is to stay at Sporting. We are going to play in the Champions League again and that excites me a lot”, he said at the time.
Those comments were welcomed at Alvalade, especially because the Champions League has been one of the club’s strongest arguments in their efforts to keep him.
Following the Cape Verde match, though, the tone was slightly different.
“I am very happy at Sporting, but you never know what will happen,” he told Portuguese radio Antena 1.
Interestingly, Araújo also spoke warmly about his Sporting team-mate Ivan Fresneda. Fresneda was in Miami for the match.
“I was happy to speak with Fresneda, I am grateful he was here and I love playing with him. I hope we can play together for a long time,” he said.
So despite leaving the door open regarding his future, he continues to speak like a player who’s quite invested in his club.
Sporting already preparing their pitch
Recent reports in Portugal have explained how the club intend to fight to keep Araújo for at least another season.
The plan includes meetings with his representatives after the World Cup and a salary increase that could move him among the highest earners in Rui Borges’ squad.
Sporting also remain determined to hold out for figures close to his €80m (£69m) release clause.
But now, after previously sounding committed to staying, he has left a little more room for uncertainty.
It is only a small change in wording, but with Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham all watching closely, that will not go unnoticed.