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| Friday, 06 August 2010 14:14 |
I'm tremendously happy - RodrigoStriker signs five-year deal with Aguias Promising striker Rodrigo is more than delighted with his move to Benfica as the club officially presented the 19-year-old to the Portuguese media as one of their own.
Benfica ponied up 6 million euros for the former Real Madrid academy product and in return signed the marksman to a five-year contract. It is also believed that Real have been left with a buy-back option and should the Spaniards opt for Rodrigo to return after two years, it would cost the merengues double what Benfica just dished out. The Brazilian-born, Spanish international could hardly contain his excitement at having joined the Lisbon club and is anxious to get his career started with the Portuguese giants. "It is with tremendous happiness that I am a part of one of the biggest clubs in Europe; it is always exciting for any player," beamed Rodrigo. "I am very happy that Benfica took a gamble on me and I hope to re-pay the club's expectations." "I hope to become integrated in the next few days. I believe that I won't have any problems as I'm a calm person and I also speak Portuguese. I feel it will be easy." "I have confidence in myself and in the people running the club as this will be a new stage. I expect that things will run naturally. This will be my first year as a professional and Benfica have invested a lot in me. I hope to learn a lot now and all throughout my career. " Bright futureBenfica's director of football Rui Costa was also present during Rodrigo's unveiling and feels rather confident that the young goal-scorer will pay dividends in no time."Rodrigo is one for the present and also the future. We are happy to have brought him to the Estadio da Luz," said Costa. "He is a player with enormous talent and we believe that he will have a great future." As to whether Rodrigo will be the club's last signing before the close of the summer transfer window, Rui Costa claims that Benfica's shopping is not over yet as the club have recently been linked with Santos' Wesley, Esporte Clube Vitoria's Elkeson and Marseille's Hatem Ben Afra.. "Don't ask me about names. We are working to finalise the squad in the best manner possible. I can say that with Ramires' exit, someone else will arrive." by Marco Pereira |
SHUT UPA U FACE!
That job should be done by the mid table, lower table and second league teams.
The league isn't profitable enough to just play young Portuguese players. The fact is that clubs like Nacional, Maritimo, Naval, Setubal, and the like should be developing young Portuguese talent. It would allow them to sell those same players to the bigger clubs in Portugal and abroad.
Squads like Benfica, Porto and Sporting have to concentrate in winning European League games, in order to elevate the league itself. Which in turn will bring money into the league.
Sporting has a wonderful academy, but we must face the facts that didn't get enough for the great talents they developed.
This is good piece of business by Benfica. He will hopefully help us win and then allow us to continue buying talent with the money he'll bring in. Both through tourney wins and eventual transfer.