Rafael Camacho signs for Sporting
Rafael Camacho has completed a move to Sporting CP, the club has announced.
The Sporting president today reported that it took 7 months of negotiations to sign the winger, who can also play as a right back, but he has finally signed on a deal that lasts until 2024.
Camacho, 19, was unhappy with his lack of senior game time with the Champions League holders, and was hoping to move on this summer after enduring a season where he failed to break into the Liverpool senior side.
Indeed, the former Portugal U19 international only featured for Liverpool twice in his career - a one minute cameo appearance for Crystal Palace in the Premier League and a 90-minute showing in a 2-1 loss to Wolves in the FA Cup.
That said, while he failed to break into the senior team, he performed to an excellent standard in the Liverpool youth side, where he scored 8 goals and assisted 5 in just 14 appearances in the Premier League 2.
Sporting CP had been actively pursuing the Portuguese winger this summer and have finally landed their man.
Indeed, the footballer’s agent Euclides Camacho, who is also his father, had been vocal about his son’s future and a potential return to Sporting.
Speaking to A Bola, Euclides said that he thought Camacho’s future would be determined “by the end of this month, the beginning of July” - which proved to be the case. He also said, in reference to a potential return to Portugal and Sporting: “It is often said that a good child returns home, and Rafael does not escape that rule. He likes Portugal, has friends here who he grew up with, and part of his family…”
“The sentimental connection can, of course, carry weight. It is well known that Rafael spent 8 years at Sporting. He arrived aged 7, and left at 14.”
“It was a long time, he made many friends, people both know and like him. It is natural that there is an emotional connection to Sporting that is unlike any other club in Portugal.”
Camacho came through the Sporting youth academy before moving to Manchester City at the age of 13.
Wolverhampton Wanderers were another club thought to be interested in Camacho.
