For Marcus Edwards the time feels right to leave Lisbon. It has been home for three years, a period during which he has blossomed as a footballer and won the Portuguese title.
Edwards, hailed as Mini Messi by Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham, came of age at Sporting under Ruben Amorim, fulfilling much of his vast potential after leaving English football as a teenager, and has eyes fixed on another challenge.
'I’m just turned 26 and ready for the next phase of my career,' as he tells Mail Sport. 'My contract is up at the end of next season, and I feel like it’s the right time for me to try something different, change my environment, try something new.