Joaquín Piquerez from Palmeiras was linked with Sporting CP as an alternative to Maxi Araújo. However, Piquerez, along with Tom Rothe of Union Berlin, Costantino Favasuli from Catanzaro, and Nuno Tavares of Lazio, is not in the plans at Alvalade, because the club is in negotiations for a young player from the European market with potential for progression.