Sporting CP president Frederico Varandas has been quick to shut down a reported departure for top scorer Luis Suarez.
Suarez was Sporting‘s player of the season with 38 goals in 53 games and is expected to shine for Colombia at the World Cup.
As such, his name has come into the fore at a number of clubs.
Premier League side Newcastle have been linked, but now Turkish giants Fenerbahce have played their hand.
Presidential candidate Hakan Safi has said that if he’s elected by Fener members, he has a deal to bring Suarez in.
Varandas, though, has a very different take on Safi’s claims.
Sporting attack Fenerbahce
Speaking to CMTV, he said: “I don’t know the Fenerbahce presidential candidate, but we know his campaign manager very well.
“He lives in Porto, and we know him well, we’re already used to the playbook he and his friends use.
“And those dirty strategies don’t work at Sporting ; they ricochet, they go abroad.”
He then cited what he believes was a similar disruptive ploy in the winter window.
Varandas continued: “I remember very recently, on the last day of the winter transfer window, a news story came out about an alleged offer from Atlético Madrid for our captain Hjulmand.
“An offer that never existed, but we know where the news came from, who planted it, and, coincidentally, it came out a week before the FC Porto – Sporting game . A coincidence,” he said, clearly sarcastically.
Varandas then finished: “No Sporting player is immune to the transfer market, but I can also give you a guarantee: if that gentleman wins the elections, Suarez ‘s price will be 80 million euros, not a cent less.
“He doesn’t even need to talk to us, he just needs to make the payment.
“Regarding Suarez , he’s a great professional, he scored 38 goals and next year he’ll score 40.”
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