13 August 2007, by Tom Kundert

Belenenses striker Dady wants out

Marksman set to walk out on Lisbon club

Cape Verdean striker Dady, scorer of 15 goals last season for Belenenses, is set to leave the Lisbon club.

The powerful front man signed an improved contract just two months ago, but has now done a u-turn and looks set to cross the border to play in La Liga.

The news comes as a shock to Belenenses, who were counting on Dady to lead the club’s Uefa Cup campaign. Jorge Jesus’ team have enjoyed a good pre-season as they attempt to at least match last season’s considerable achievements of a fifth-place finish and reaching the final of the Portuguese Cup.

However, Spanish club Osasuna have made a bid for the player, believed to be 2.5m euros, but the Restelo club insist Dady will not be sold for less than 3.5 million.

To complicate matters further, Dady is now apparently being represented by the Portuguese Professional Footballers’ Union, and is refusing to talk to anyone at Belenenses, much to the anger of club president Cabral Ferreira.

“As everybody knows, Dady has a 3-year contract with Belenenses. We are witnessing a hostile purchase by a group led by the Footballers’ Union,” said Ferreira. “It doesn’t make sense. How can the Union, as a partner of the Bwin Liga, act in transgression of an employment contract agreed with the League.”

Dady has announced that he will give a press conference today at 6.30 pm to clarify the situation.


Related: Dady PortuGOAL profile