Porto and Benfica raid Belenenses for star duo

Dragons snap up Rolando; Amorim to move to Benfica

FC Porto have started planning for next year by making their first foray into the transfer market, signing defender Rolando on a four-year contract. The Portuguese Champions are not resting on their laurels and would like to make it four in a row, with the addition of the current Belenenses stopper helping their cause.

The 22-year-old Cape Verde born player will not cost the club a penny and arrives on a free transfer as he is out of a contract at the end of this season. Porto supremo Pinto da Costa made the announcement official before his club’s comprehensive 3-0 victory over Vitoria Setubal in the semi-final of the Portuguese Cup.

“We only spoke with Rolando after we received authorisation from the president of Belenenses. It was me, personally, who arrived at an agreement with Fernando Sequeira in order to complete the transfer. Everything is regulated,” stated the Porto president.

With the acquisition of Rolando, questions may be asked of the future of Bruno Alves. The Portuguese international has gained a lot of critical acclaim this past season and is under the scope of some of Europe’s leading clubs. It remains to be seen if Rolando has been brought in to partner Bruno Alves or to replace him.

Amorim set to join Benfica

Belenenses look set to lose another player as midfielder Ruben Amorim is close to signing with cross-town rivals Benfica. Fernando Sequeira confirmed to the media that the two clubs have been involved in negotiations regarding the Portuguese U21 starlet. Sequeira laments the fact that the Blues will be losing such a fundamental piece of their squad and had nothing but praise for the young midfielder.

“There have been negotiations between myself and the president of Benfica. Everything is very advanced and I think we will reach a conclusion,” confessed Sequeira. “Ruben Amorim is a player who has shown great effort and dedication during his years with the club. He is also a great athlete, a great man and a young player with enormous potential. His contract finishes at the end of this year so he is allowed to leave.”

The Blues supremo lamented that the previous board of directors did not have the foresight and prudence when it came to holding onto Amorim, allowing him to leave the club at no cost.

“The people who were at Belenenses over the last few years did not attempt to keep him. At this moment, it’s virtually impossible to keep him,” bemoaned the Blues president.

It will be a homecoming of sorts for Amorim as the player was groomed in Benfica’s youth academies before being released and signing for Belenenses.