Aston Villa’s interest in Geny Catamo is starting to make even more sense now that the Sporting CP winger’s market is exploding in Portugal.
Villa were one of the first clubs linked with the Mozambique international last summer, when Sporting’s demands sat around €25m-€30m (£21m-£26m). That now looks like a very different reality.
According to A Bola, Como have become the club pushing hardest for the 25-year-old.
The Italian side already had a €25m (£21m) bid rejected by Sporting and have since returned with improved numbers, with negotiations now entering what the newspaper describes as an unpredictable phase.
And Sporting’s position has clearly changed.
Sporting now demanding much more
Over recent months, Portuguese reports repeatedly suggested Catamo could leave for somewhere between €20m-€30m (£17m-£26m).
Now A Bola say Sporting want a fee close to the winger’s €60m (£51m) release clause.
The reason is simple: Catamo’s value has exploded.
His numbers have improved every season. In 2023/24, he managed six goals and five assists. The following year he delivered seven goals and three assists. This season has been his strongest yet, with eight goals and four assists in 47 matches.
His Champions League performances pushed things even further. A Bola specifically highlight Sporting’s 2-1 win over PSG, where Luis Suárez scored twice but Catamo was viewed internally as one of the biggest difference-makers on the pitch.
Como changed the situation completely
Cesc Fàbregas’ side are now pushing aggressively and their financial situation explains why. Como secured a surprise fourth-place finish in Serie A and qualified directly for the Champions League, bringing an expected €35m-€50m (£30m-£43m) boost.
The club are also backed by the Hartono family, whose fortune is estimated at around €35bn (£30bn). Thierry Henry is also part of the wider project.
So while Como may not carry the historical weight of Italy’s biggest clubs, they now have serious financial power behind them.
Adding to that context, Sporting own 100% of the winger’s rights after resolving a long-running ownership situation last summer, his new contract runs until 2029, and his Champions League campaign has dramatically strengthened Sporting’s leverage.
So Villa are now looking at one of Sporting’s biggest assets and a transfer battle that is becoming increasingly expensive.