From Rio Ave, on August 8, 2016, in Estádio José Alvalade, as a team with Paulo Oliveira, and with Jorge Jesus on the bench, to Benfica, next Sunday, again in the Lion stronghold, to lead the defensive trio with Luis Neto and Goncalo Inacio, with a badge Captain, Champion Badge and Robin Amorim as seventh coach. Sebastian Coates reaches 200 official matches in the Portuguese derby.

The Uruguayan centre-back, currently 31, hit the tour mark when he finished his seventh season with a lion on his chest, becoming the fifth centre-back with more Ligue 1 matches in Sporting’s history.
Delicate moment in 2019/2020

Coates… has withstood everything. Even on a disastrous start to the season, without escaping Alvalade’s court, after a very turbulent moment on an individual level. We’re talking about the start of 2019/2020, where the center had three weeks to put it on edge. Who does not remember those three hits, two goals of his own and an expulsion? The mistrust deepened with each match. Even in the face of such adversity, the center turned around, almost always cold in words, imposing itself with a… natural drive.

Renewal until 2025 is on the table

Coates has a contract until 2023 – with another year of option – but, as A BOLA reports, he already has a deal virtually sealed to extend the contract through 2025, with a salary cut. A process, at the moment, is on hold, as there is no rush, from either side, in an agreement that is expected to be peaceful and must be signed at the end of the season. Coates will be in the Lions’ salary cap, with a net salary of €1m per season, and he will be a Lion until at least age 34.