Sporting snap up Brazilian prodigy

“New Ronaldinho” completes loan deal to Lions

Sporting have signed Celso Luiz Honorato, better known as Celsinho, on a one-year loan deal with an option to make the deal permanent for 2 million euros at the end of the season.

The 18-year-old Brazilian arrives from Lokomotiv Moscow with a big reputation after being compared by many pundits to the great Ronaldinho Gaucho.

Lokomotiv paid his former Brazilian club, Portuguesa, 7m euros for the teenager, but the player found it difficult to adapt to life and football in the Russian capital.

Celsinho admitted he does not know a great deal about Sporting, but is delighted to join the club where he is sure he will be able to live up to his early potential. “This is a moment of great happiness for me. I know that Sporting is a major club in Portugal.”

“The fact they have Brazilians in the squad will make it easy for me to adapt and for whoever has played in Russia adapting to any other country will be easy. I already know Polga, Liedson, Izmailov and Marian Had.”

When asked about the frequent comparisons made with Ronaldinho, the starlet laughed off the suggestion:

“I think the only thing I really have in common with Ronaldinho is my hairstyle! The player that signed for Sporting is Celsinho, not Ronaldinho. I want the fans to enjoy the football of Celsinho and not the football of the Barcelona player.”

Celsinho describes himself as a fast and skilful player who loves to have the ball at his feet.