Sporting Lisbon wing-back Maximiliano Araujo has hinted that he hopes to join Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in the near future.
Araujo was part of the Sporting side that comprehensively beat Guardiola's Man City side 4-1 at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the Champions League last week.
The 24-year-old scored the goal that put Sporting ahead early in the second half, in what was Ruben Amorim's penultimate game in charge, before now moving to City's rivals Manchester United.
Araujo has only been at the club for just over two months, after being a late signing in the summer transfer window, joining from Toluca in a deal worth €13.6m (£11.25m).
The versatile player has already become a regular in the side, often being utilised as a left wing-back, but he has also proven capable of playing as an outright winger in the absence of Pedro Goncalves.
Already a full Uruguayan international, Araujo has also featured in a central striking role on occasion in recent games for La Celeste, and has three international goals since making his debut last year.
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Araujo keen on Premier League move?
After joining up with the Uruguay squad for the upcoming international break, Araujo was asked by reporters in a press conference about the win over Man City, and how it felt to beat a team assembled by Guardiola.
Initially, Araujo gave a rather tongue-in-cheek response to being asked whether he would like to play for Man City under Guardiola.
With a wry smile, Araujo responded: "I hope so, I hope so..."
The player then seemed to downplay the comments, as he continued: "I asked him [Guardiola] for a photo, we talked for a few minutes and he congratulated me. I'm very happy about that. We talked about the game, nothing more."
Fire sale to come at Sporting?
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Araujo was not the only player who caught the eye in Sporting's impressive win over the Premier League champions last week, and some of their league-winning squad from last season may be getting more attention now after starring on the continent.
Viktor Gyokeres is the most-talked-about striker in Europe at the moment, and his hat trick against Man City has only seen his stocks skyrocket further, with 27 goals for club and country already this season.
On the opposite flank to Araujo, teenager Geovany Quenda also impressed at wing-back, and has already received a call up to the senior Portugal squad at just 17 years of age.
Just ahead of the Uruguayan on the left, Goncalves played an integral part in the second goal, showing fine footwork before setting up Araujo to finish, and he was the man who netted an astonishing goal from the halfway line at the Emirates in the Europa League 18 months ago, while continuing to hit double figures for both goals and assists each season.
Sporting will return to action in their first game following the departure of Amorim when they face fourth-tier Amarante in the Taca de Portugal on the first Friday back after the international break.
Andrew Delaney
