For Tiago Ilori, moving back to his boyhood club of Sporting Lisbon was a proposition too good to turn down in January. The centre back moved to the Portuguese capital at the end of last month for a fee believed to be around £2.1 million so that he could be closer to home, and play a higher standard of football. Reasons I don’t think any fan can really begrudge a footballer for.
After only one appearance for Sporting Lisbon however, it would appear that the grass isn’t always greener when you move to pastures new (or old in this case). Ilori only made the bench for Lisbon when they played fierce rivals Benfica on Saturday, and although he did not come on, when his name was announced in the stadium, it was met with a chorus of boos. It appears the Lisbon fans have not forgotten, or forgiven, the manner in which Ilori left for Liverpool six years ago.
However, his second Sporting debut would come last night against the same opposition but in the Portuguese Cup semi final. Benfica won the match 2-1, and who scored the goal that ended up being the winner? You guessed it. The former Reading man put through his own net to give Benfica the lead over the two legged affair.
It’s easy to say now that the grass isn’t always greener, after all it’s only been one game. If things continue in this fashion however, he could quickly be on the phone to his former manager and fellow countryman, asking if there is any room in the squad in the summer.
Check out our previous article: https://reading.vitalfootball.co.uk/where-did-it-go-wrong-for-marc-mcnulty/
