Keizer hoping for Fernandes stay after Coates concedes three penalties in Sporting loss

Sporting CP head coach Marcel Keizer is hoping star captain Bruno Fernandes will remain with the club once the transfer window closes.

Fernandes has been linked with a move away throughout the window and the Portugal international revealed he agreed to join Tottenham only for Sporting to block the transfer.

The 24-year-old was also strongly linked to Manchester United, while he has since emerged as a reported target for Real Madrid prior to Monday’s deadline.

Keizer was asked about Fernandes’ future following Saturday’s shock loss to Rio Ave and he told reporters: “We have to wait until Monday.

“Hopefully he will stay. Many things can happen. We are not in a position to be able to decide.”

 Final do jogo:

 #SportingCP perde por 3-2 frente ao Rio Ave FC, na quarta jornada da #LigaNOS.#SCPRAFC #DiaDeSporting pic.twitter.com/lWG9uWnJVS

— Sporting Clube de Portugal (@Sporting_CP) August 31, 2019

Fernandes – who netted 20 goals and supplied 13 assists in the Primeira Liga last season – scored in the 3-2 defeat to Rio Ave in Lisbon.

Uruguay international and former Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates conceded three penalties and was sent off as Sporting crashed to their first league defeat of the campaign.

Filipe Augusto converted a sixth-minute penalty following Coates’ foul before Sporting hit back through Fernandes and Luiz Phellype, who put the hosts ahead eight minutes into the second half.

However, Coates gave away two penalties during the final four minutes and was subsequently sent off for a second yellow card as Rio Ave emerged triumphant.

“I have no opinion, the referee decided and I can do nothing,” Keizer said when asked about the three penalties. “I only have an opinion about my team. We didn’t play enough. If we had had more ball after 2-1 it could have been different.”