Sporting Clube de Portugal midfielder William Carvalho has rubbished reports suggesting he is unhappy at the club.
The Angola-born Portugal international, 22, took a few giants steps forward in his development during the 2013-14 campaign and was subsequently linked with English Premier League trio Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United.
Fresh reports have implied Carvalho’s rcent dip in form is due to his unhappiness to secure a move away from the Estádio José Alvalade, but the 22-year-old has moved to reject such claims.
“I can do more,” Carvalho said. “I know I haven’t been on my best this season, but it will turn around, hopefully against Porto on Friday.
“Nobody has ever heard me say that I wanted to leave or that I’m unhappy at Sporting. I’ve always been satisfied here.
“People who think my bad start to the season has anything to do with me being upset, have never been more wrong.”
Despite his poor run of performances in Portugal’s top-flight, Carvalho did impress in Sporting’s 1-1 draw at Maribor in the UEFA Champions League on 17 September.
On that night, the former Cercle Brugge K.S.V. loanee set up Nani for the opening goal, but an error by Mauricio allowed substitute Luka Zahovic to equalise at the death.
Can Carvalho regain top form in the near future?
Martinez plays down Barkley rumours
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has played down the swirling rumours linking midfielder Ross Barkley with move away from Goodison Park next year.
The England international, 20, is undoubtedly one of the Premier League’s hottest young attractions and there has been increasing talk linking Manchester City with a £35 million swoop for the player.
However, Martinez has insisted the ‘talk’ is merely speculation.
“It’s a rumour and we’ll leave it there,” Martinez said. “We have spoken enough in the past about potential interest and I always mention the same, we take it as a footballing compliment and we move on.
“All we want from Ross now is to be able to get him fully fit and get him ready to enjoy his football and to help the team and we’re looking forward to that day.”
Barkley, who suffered a knee ligament injury in training just before the opening day of the season and was expected to be ruled out until November at the earliest, could return to the side in a ‘few weeks.’
“Medicine and football don’t go hand in hand because the football, you want the player to be fit tomorrow, and medicine always wants an extra day,” added Martinez.
“But he’s doing really well. He’s starting to run, which is something we didn’t expect until next week. Now the next bit will be introducing the ball.
“I do expect that he’s going to be a few weeks still but he’s well ahead of what we expected and it’s all positive.”
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