What Paulo Fonseca’s Sporting CP Appointment Could Mean for Nestory Irankunda

Nestory Irankunda’s run of starts at Sporting CP has given him a foothold in Portugal. An expected change in the dugout could now test how quickly he adapts to a different version of the same job: playing wide while helping the team control space, possession and transitions.

Sporting opened negotiations to end Rui Borges’ contract after a 2-0 win over Casa Pia, in which Irankunda made his sixth straight start and played 62 minutes. The club sit third, nine points off the pace. Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca is expected to take over, though the appointment has yet to be confirmed. Sporting B coach Tiago Fernandes is leading the senior side on an interim basis for Wednesday’s Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk.

The timing matters because Borges helped Irankunda move from England’s Championship to a starting role at a Portuguese powerhouse. The Australian has three assists and has created 15 chances in 10 Primeira Liga appearances, second at Sporting only to Maxi Araujo’s 16. Fonseca’s arrival would put that progress in the hands of a new coach with a distinct attacking approach.

A coaching change draws criticism

Fonseca’s expected move has also prompted a sharp reaction from former France international Christophe Dugarry. Speaking on RMC Sport’s Rothen s’enflamme podcast, Dugarry called the timing “terrible for football in general” and criticised the prospect of a coach leaving before the season ends.

“For a long time we said that players only thought about money, now it’s the coaches,” he said. Dugarry argued that a coach has a responsibility to help young players develop and said he was unconvinced by Fonseca’s apparent regret about leaving Lyon. His comments reflect frustration among some observers, while the immediate sporting question for Irankunda is more practical: what will the new manager ask him to do?

It would be Irankunda’s eighth coach, including caretakers, since he joined Watford in June last year. At 20, he has already had to adjust to frequent changes in leadership. Yet this one arrives just as he has begun to establish himself at Sporting, where Borges had earned his trust.

Finding space inside from the wing

Fonseca has previously described a system in which wingers move into central areas while full-backs supply width. “Our wingers play inside all the time,” he said while discussing his approach at Shakhtar Donetsk. The aim, he explained, is to “win the space between the lines.”

For Irankunda, that could shift the emphasis from receiving the ball in open space near the touchline to finding pockets between midfield and defence. His pace and direct dribbling remain useful, but tighter central areas reward early movement, awareness of nearby teammates and the ability to receive under pressure.

He already has a base to build on: Irankunda averages 2.6 successful dribbles per 90 minutes, the second-highest figure at Sporting. He has shown he can cut inside and threaten goal. The next step would be to make those central positions productive before the ball arrives, rather than relying on speed to create separation after receiving it.

Socceroos coach Tony Popovic has described a quick rise in Irankunda’s tactical maturity. After his move to Sporting, Popovic said the winger had learned that a transfer brings no guarantee of minutes: “You have to earn everything.” He credited the club with helping Irankunda understand positioning and work rate, adding that the 20-year-old was “well ahead of where I expect him to be right now.”

More work around the striker

Fonseca has said he wants his teams to dominate possession. “In Shakhtar, like in every one of my teams, I want to dominate the games. I want to have the ball,” he said. That preference could ask Irankunda to contribute more often to combinations around Sporting’s striker, Luis Suarez, instead of depending mainly on runs into space.

The pair have already produced decisive moments. Irankunda assisted Suarez in a Champions League win over Lens, then won a penalty that the Colombian converted against LASK eight days later. Those contributions suggest a foundation for a closer partnership, although a possession-heavy system may demand more frequent short exchanges, coordinated movement and quick decisions near the box.

That kind of role can suit a winger with Irankunda’s ability to beat opponents, provided he can also keep attacks flowing when the direct route is closed. Fonseca’s record gives a clue to the style of play he may favour; it doesn’t guarantee that Sporting will use an identical system. Irankunda’s place in the side will depend on the new coach’s plans and on how well the winger carries out his instructions.

The defensive response matters too

Fonseca’s preference for narrow wingers also has a defensive purpose. Keeping players close together can help a team press immediately after losing possession and make counterattacks harder to launch. “We try to recover the ball immediately when we lose it,” he said of his approach.

That means Irankunda may be judged not only on what he creates going forward, but on how quickly he reacts when an attack breaks down and whether he presses in coordination with his teammates. He recorded four recoveries in 73 minutes against Lens and made two defensive contributions against Casa Pia. Those figures offer snapshots of his work, while the key demand in Fonseca’s system would be the speed and timing of the collective response.

Popovic has also highlighted work rate and positioning as areas Sporting has been developing. The overlap between that guidance and Fonseca’s stated principles could help Irankunda adapt. But a new manager will bring new expectations, and familiarity with the general demands of pressing won’t remove the need to earn his role again.

Turning trust into a lasting place

Irankunda has spoken warmly about Borges, telling Portuguese media: “I feel good working with him. He believes in all the players, including me. We have a special relationship.” Losing a coach who had helped him settle is a real change at a sensitive point in his season.

Former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has stressed the value of Sporting’s support, saying the club sees Irankunda as an important player who needs “nurturing and guidance.” His advice was to stay grounded, keep working and play with freedom in the right environment.

Fonseca’s expected arrival creates a test of whether Irankunda can carry his recent momentum into a new tactical setup. His chance creation and link-up with Suarez have already shown what he can offer. The next marker will be whether he can add consistent movement between the lines and an immediate defensive reaction to his explosive play.