Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio pens emotional farewell to Sporting fans

Following Portugal's exit from the World Cup, the goalkeeper took to Instagram to express his feelings to fans of Sporting and pass on his respect to the club at which he spent the last 18 years of his career.

The 30-year-old was among a large group of players to terminate their contracts at the Portuguese club, following an attack by 50 of their own supporters at the end of the season when the team missed out on Champions League football.

In the statement, the stopper said his goodbyes, claiming his silence over the situation at the club was in respect to the side.

"After many noises and events that Sporting Clube de Portugal, we were recently targeted, I went back to the silence... Not for lack of feeling, nor for lack of valid arguments, but for respect to Sporting Clube de Portugal and its supporters." he wrote.

"At this moment, there is already room for me to say, in brief lines, what I feel and why my reserved attitude.

"I have supported and experienced many less positive situations in order to represent my club, always giving my best and being sovereign, my desire to honor the jersey I wore since I was 12 years old, as well as transmit these values ​​to all my colleagues, while one of the captains and one of the players with more years of home of this team, who always proud of me and will continue to be proud of his genuine strength and determination!

"But I am also a human being... of flesh and blood, just like all of you, and so I had to make a decision.

"The reasons that led me to leave are now known by all of you...

"They are public knowledge... the causes described in my termination.

"I have never failed to respect anyone and I will never do it, because my silence to this day was exclusively out of respect for everyone!

"At the time of my termination, my continuity had become untenable because it compromised my professional productivity before my club, and for that reason, I would never be able to exercise my professional activity in Sporting.

"This was my home for 18 years, yes my house!

"I spent more time at Sporting than at my parents' house...

"In addition to my parents... Yes, it was Sporting that formed me and transformed me into what I am today, not only as a Sportinguista, but also as a professional and a human being. It was without doubt a house that created me at all these levels!

"It would be impossible for me to turn back or harm this great family.

"So I respect and I will always respect all the opinions on the part of the fans, thanking all the support that they have given me throughout all these years and I will continue to follow closely and with the heart, this my great club.

"After all these years, this was not the way I thought of saying goodbye to my club and all of you, but I hope you will keep with you what I feel!!! That I am and always will be a lion!!"

Patricio's Portugal were knocked out of the World Cup courtesy of a 2-1 defeat to Uruguay, he'll likely feature in a collection of Wolves' pre-season fixtures ahead of their Premier League campaign, which kicks off next month.