Sporting CP's new goalkeeper speaks at preseason training camp in the Algarve

Antonio Adán was signed by Sporting Clube de Portugal last week, but had only the briefest of introductions to the Academia Sporting training ground before being whisked away to the Algarve for the club's preseason training camp. There, he has been acquainting himself with his new teammates and looking forward to the challenge ahead.

"I'm happy and very excited. I was looking forward to coming here," said the goalkeeper, who has also had a turn on the microphone during the team's downtime in Lagos.

"My initiation task was to sing at dinner yesterday," he revealed, laughing. "It's part of being accepted into the group, and I was very happy to provide my teammates with that fun moment. That's what this group are like: It's a really good group of people, with a strong bond and a lot of desire to start the season."

With the more serious business of the Primeira Liga season just around the corner, the squad are in for a demanding few weeks of training.

"The work has been hard, but that's normal in preseason. Every component of the squad is working with a lot of intensity, with plenty of ball work and plenty of fitness work. We have to create a strong group for what is coming up: It will be a hard season, and I believe that the entire team are focused for it."

"The mentality for a club as big as Sporting CP to always be at the top. That's the mentality of the coach and the club, and the way we want to approach this season. We want to face it with ambition and enthusiasm."

Adán is also looking forward to a battle for his place in the starting XI at his new club, saying that "My teammates and I are ready for whatever the coach decides. We all want to play, and I think that it is good for the group to have this competitiveness in every position. I hope the coach picks me to contribute, but if he doesn't then I have to keep working to help the team."