After struggling to make an impact at Inter, Portuguese midfielder Joao Mario is enjoying a return to form on loan at Sporting CP in his homeland.
The 28-year-old joined Inter in a €40 million deal from Sporting in 2016 after impressing as Portugal won the European Championship that summer, but failed to live up to expectations and rejoined his former club at the start of the season.
A return to the Lisbon club has seen Joao Mario regain his form and the midfielder was instrumental in Sporting’s 2-1 victory over Santa Clara in the Primeira Liga yesterday, setting up a 94th minute winner, as reported by FCInter1908.it.
Indeed, the Portuguese international has become a key protagonist as Sporting moved 12 points clear of Braga at the top of the table, with the Leoes closing in on a first league title since 2002.
Joao Mario scored four goals in 69 appearances for Inter, with his time at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza broken up by loan spells at West Ham United and Lokomotiv Moscow, before a return to Sporting.