of the armory The interest in Ivan Fresneda in Portugal has been well documented in recent months. The Sporting defender has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League.
The 21-year-old has been closely monitored after establishing himself as one of the finest right-backs in Portuguese football. Other than this, Recent reports have put him on Arsenal's shortlist for the position.
What makes the story more interesting is how close Fresneda came to leaving Sporting before any interest emerged.
according to to ballThe Spaniard's rise from potential departure candidate to one of the club's most protected assets has been one of the biggest internal success stories of the last year.
Potential move from Como to Arsenal radar
When Fresneda arrived from Real Valladolid for €9m (£7.7m) in 2023, expectations were high. The reality proved more complex.
The defender struggled to establish himself under Rubén Amorim and managed only 10 appearances during his first season in Portugal. However, A Bola pointed out that his profile never fully matched the demands of Sporting's 3–4–3 system. This system relied heavily on highly attacking wing-backs.
Before the arrival of Rui Borges, the newspaper says that Fresneda was also considered transferable and talks were held with Italian side Como. At that level, an exit looked likely.
Instead, everything changed.
Amorim did not see what Rui Borges saw
Bola's report centers on the belief that Rui Borges identified qualities in Fresneda that had previously been overlooked by former Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim. As a result, the coach's tactical changes helped immediately.
The move to a system featuring a more traditional right-back role allowed the Spaniard to play to his strengths. Borges gave him attacking freedom while demanding maximum aggression in defensive duels, rather than asking him to operate as an attack-first wing-back.
The result was that one player suddenly looked comfortable. Fresneda finished the season with 39 appearances, one goal and two assists, and became Sporting's eighth most-used player.
The report also shows that the change was not merely tactical.
Psychological work behind change
According to A. Bola, Borges believed that Fresneda's greatest need was self-confidence.
The Sporting manager worked a lot on the player's mentality, encouraging his competitive nature and convincing him to use his impressive physical qualities more effectively for the team.
It appears that that trust has paid off. The newspaper describes Fresneda as focused, polite and hard-working. Apart from this, it is also said that his status inside the dressing room has increased a lot.
In fact, A Bola claims the defender is already viewed internally as part of a small group of potential future captains.
For a foreign player who arrived only three years ago and once made his way to the exit, this represents a remarkable turnaround.
Arsenal and others now watching closely
The change has naturally attracted attention. Arsenal have followed Fresneda closely throughout the season and have recently placed him on their shortlist of right-back options.
Newcastle and Manchester City Has also been added. Meanwhile, A Bola has now mentioned Real Madrid among the clubs interested.
This attention comes after a campaign in which Fresneda finally fulfilled his promise, convincing Sporting to sign him. What's interesting is Sporting's reaction.
Earlier reports It was suggested that despite the player's €80m (£68.9m) release clause, the club could hear offers upwards of €30m (£25.8m). However, now this latest report makes much stronger statements.
A statement said that Sporting now considers Fresneda "untouchable" and is part of the core group they want to keep at all costs next season.
It remains to be seen whether this stance will hold up to a bigger offer from the Premier League. What is clear is that the player Arsenal are now monitoring so closely was heading in the opposite direction a long time ago.
