Born on the 3rd of April 2005, Rafael Nel is a spritely 20-year-old forward hailing from Portugal. Sporting a lean figure at 5ft 11in (1.82m) tall and a restrained 10st 12lb (69kg), this lad darts through the grassy plains more akin to a stag than his counterparts. He currently swathes himself in the number 86 jersey at Sporting CP, striding the field mostly as a striker.
Nel's allegiance to Sporting CP remains writ in stone for the foreseeable future. His contract, with a time span not to be scoffed at, has another four years and one month left to run its course. The expiration date is carved in summer's heart, on the 30th of June, 2029. A date that surely looms in the periphery for the sporting echelons.
The young sprog made his imprint on the continental scene during the Europa League of the 2023-2024 season. His contribution for Sporting CP may seem modest, amounting to a solitary appearance as a substitute. Yet, one needs to remember that Rome wasn't built in a day, nor are footballers carved from granite overnight.