The Uruguayan winger gets back on the pace

After a great first season at Sporting CP, Maxi Araújo was one of the internationals who returned to preseason training this past Monday. With the 2025/2026 campaign on the horizon, this will be his first full summer at the club, as he only joined at the end of August last year.

"It was important for me to have my first preseason here. Although we've only just returned, I'm really enjoying it. When I arrived, the team welcomed me very quickly and, as a result, I adapted fast", recalled the 25-year-old Uruguayan, who used the recent summer break to be close to his family.

"I spent many years playing in Mexico, and now I've had my first campaign here, and my family are very happy and proud of what I've achieved. They're far away, but always close to me, and that's the most important thing. Every time I go to Uruguay, I try to make the most of my time with them. Fortunately, nowadays you can also make a video call and see them there", he noted.

As for the workouts in Portugal so far, he revealed that "The first training sessions are always a bit tough, because, despite having kept in shape and recharged my batteries with my family, when we return to training with our teammates it is always a bit difficult. But I'm fine, we're working well, and that's why I'm very happy".

"I think the young players are really enjoying it. There's a lot of quality in Sporting CP's youth academy and in the B team. Last season, a lot of young players came through and stayed in the first team squad, and now they're doing really well in preseason. We always try to make them feel comfortable and compete on equal terms with any other player, because we've all been in their position. They just have to seize the opportunity and show the coach they want to stay here", he emphasised.

Asked about the aims for the upcoming season, he stated that "What's expected of Sporting CP is always to fight for every title and always be at the top. I'd never played in a final before last year, and the first one [in the Taça da Liga] we lost on penalties, but I knew we'd have many more after that, because we have an incredible team, with incredible players. That's why the club have to always be in finals. We were fortunate enough to end the year with two incredible victories", recalled the winger.

2025/2026 begins with a trophy at stake, in the Supertaça against SL Benfica on July 31st. "Everyone wants to prepare well for this type of game. We'll arrive in great shape as a team because we're working towards that. We have very good preparation work ahead of us and I think we'll arrive in good shape for a game that we're going to try to win".

As well as a training camp in the Algarve, Sporting CP also play Celtic FC (July 16th) and Sunderland (July 21st) in preparation games. "It's important that the follow us from now on, because we know that our fans fill any venue where we play. We look forward to seeing them in the Algarve, because it will be great to start the season with these friendlies and with the fans in attendance, as always", he concluded.