Solange Carvalhas, Fátima Pinto and Diana Silva all sign in on Sporting's return to female football

Twenty one years later, Sporting has once again brought together a female football team. This week saw the announcement of the first official signings, with Solange Carvalhas, Fátima Pinto and Diana Silva all confirmed in Alvalade.

The three have all notched up senior caps for Portugal already. In fact, Fátima and Diana made it to the quarter-finals of the 2012 Euros. "This initiative by the club will bring a lot of people to female football and it will be a really competitive league", said Fátima Pinto after the announcement, having moved from the Spanish side Santa Teresa to Sporting.

Solange Carvalhas also has international experience under her belt and she is keen to apply it at Alvalade: "I started really early, in the youth system at 1.º de Dezembro. Then I had the chance to play in Belgium, where I played for Anderlecht for two years, and that is where I had the chance to turn professional."

Sporting CP to host French giants in presentation match

Sporting will debut Alvalade's new pitch, which is currently being laid, against the French side Olympique Lyon, at 19h30 on the 23rd of July.

Also announced this week was this season's Five Violins Trophy match, will will see Wolfsburg visit Alvalade at 19h30 on the 30th of July.

Lukas Spalvis, Alan Ruiz and Federico Ruiz sign in at Alvalade

Sporting has announced the signing of the Lithuanian Lukas Spalvis from Aalborg and the two Argentineans Alan Ruiz and Federico Ruiz from Colón. The forward penned a deal valid until 2018, with an option to extend until 2021 and with a buy-out clause of 60,000,000.00€. The two South Americans signed until 2020 and both have buy-out clauses for 60,000,000.00€.

Lukas Spalvis, who at the age of 21 has already been capped for the Lithuanian national team, was Aalborg's main weapon going forward, bagging 17 goals in 29 appearances. The young striker began his career in Germany with SV weil, before moving to Freiburg and eventually on to Aalborg in 2013.

Alan Ruiz, 22, arrives from Colón and is an offensive midfielder who can also play as a striker. He scored seven goals in just nine games played this season. After putting pen to paper, the Argentinean proved excited by the chance to shine in Alvalade: "Jorge Jesus is amongst the four best coaches in the world and it will be a privilege to work with a coach as important as him. Sporting is a great club that will be in the Champions League. The team really knows how to work the ball around well and the squad is full of players from national teams."

Rui Patrício, João Mário, Adrien Silva and Slimani all named from the Portuguese League

Sporting dominates the UEFA Portuguese League 2015/16 team named this week, on the institution's official website.

A total of four Sporting players feature from Jorge Jesus' squad: Rui Patrício, João Mário, Adrien and Slimani.

2015/16 XI in full: Rui Patrício (Sporting); Maxi Pereira (FC Porto), Miguel Layún (FC Porto) and Jardel (Benfica); Danilo Pereira (FC Porto), Adrien Silva (Sporting), João Mário (Sporting), Rafa Silva (SC Braga) and Nico Gaitán (Benfica); Jonas (Benfica) and Islam Slimani (Sporting).

João Mário on his domestic season and the coming international campaign

Currently away with Fernado Santos' Portuguese squad in preparation for Euro 2016, João Mário sat down the press this Wednesday to reflect on the domestic season and his country's chances come this June.

"It was my best season, but of course I still have to improve. We do what we can to prove ourselves with our clubs and it is down to the national coach to pick the squad after that. We have three friendlies before the Euro stars and I want to do well in those matches", opened João Mário, reflecting on the duty handed to him by Jorge Jesus throughout the season: "This season was the first time I had ever played in 4x4x2. I played in various positions and of course that made it a bit tricker, but how the team is playing is more important than how you are on paper. What matters is how the players gel together and how they take on board the coach's ideas."

The Alvalade midfielder could get his chance as part of a midfield trio with fellow Sporting stars Drien and William Carvalho. "We are used to playing together and if the coach thinks it could be a good idea them we can in the national team, but there are some really good players in the squad", added João Mário, finishing with a word on the possibility of featuring in Portugal's Olympic Team in Rio de Janeiro: "Of course I have always thought about going to the Olympics, but it is up to Sporting and not be to decide."

Teo Gutiérrez on Sporting's season before heading to Colombia

Bruno de Carvalho on the coming transfer window

Speaking at the University of Evora on Friday, Bruno de Carvalho affirmed that Sporting will not be overly active in the coming transfer market and will instead focus on maintaining a stable squad.

“This will not be a very interesting transfer market for the press when it comes to Sporting. Players who are really important for us will not be leaving for less than their buy-out clause. We have everything needed to win the league next season and we deserve to be. It was an emotional season with our fans and we still haven't won the league, but everyone realizes it is close", affirmed the Alvalade president.

Bruno de Carvalho sits down the the press to close the last training session of the season

Of course present for Sporting's last training session of the season this week, Bruno de Carvalho took a moment with Sporting TV at the end of the day's work to reflect on the campaign.

"We had a reason full of highs. the players trained today as if it was the first day of the season. We didn't reach our objective, but we are really proud of what we did. Unfortunately we didn't finish in first, but we would do it all again right now, no problem at all," affirmed the Alvalade president, adding: "The fans were magnificent and all I can do is say thank you. The way we were supported in Alvalade after getting back from Braga was mutual recognition between the players and the fans. There is no point speculating now and all we want to do is get back to work."

Bruno de Carvalho finished with a promising look to the future: "Sporting is back, we are solid and focused. We did out job and we didn't let the pressure get to us. We are all really proud of what we achieve this season."

Ricardo Esgaio renews until 2022

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement with the athlete Ricardo Esgaio for the renewal of his contract until 2022, with a buy-out clause of 45,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Ricardo Esgaio the best of professional and personal success.

Statement regarding Iuri Medeiros

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol, SAD has reached an agreement for the renewal of Iuri Medeiros' contract until 2022, with a buy-out clause of 60,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Iuri Madeiros the best of professional and personal success.