Sporting Lisbon’s Brazilian-born defensive midfielder Renato Neto is looking to gain Portuguese citizenship next year in a bid to play for the Seleccao. While the player is well-known in Europe, he is much less known in Brazil, which may be the main reason for the switch of allegiance. Neto joined Sporting’s youth setup in 2007, and developed into one of the most promising prospects at the club. In the 2010-2011 season, Neto got his first taste of first-team action when he was loaned to Cercle Brugge, which is a feeder club for Sporting. That season, he would appear in forty matches at Brugge, and established himself as a hugely important player. Another loan was arranged this season, and the midfielder continued his impressive form. Midway through the season, however, he was recalled by Sporitng, due to an injury crisis in the Portuguese club’s midfield. Since then, he has stepped in admirably, and has appeared in ten official matches. Still only aged 20, Renato Neto looks to have a solid future ahead of him, both at Sporting, and the Portuguese National Team.