2 August 2007, by Marco Pereira

Benfica swoop for Luis Filipe

Eagles add Braga right-back to squad

Benfica have pulled off the surprise signing of Portuguese right-back Luis Filipe from Sporting Braga, tying down the player to a four-year contract.

The transfer will cost the Lisbon club 1.5m euros, and the capture of the 28-year-old means that Benfica are no longer interested in acquiring the services of Barcelona’s Juliano Belletti, as earlier reported.

The inclusion of Luis Filipe in the Benfica squad will give coach Fernando Santos more options in the right-back position, and is a clear warning to Nelson that the current incumbent of that position will have to rectify his inconsistent displays or risk losing his place in the side.

The signing has an ironic twist insofar as Fernando Santos released Filipe when he was Sporting coach, loaning him out to Uniao de Leiria at the beginning of the 2003/04 season.

It is expected that Luis Filipe will participate in the Torneio do Guadiana this coming weekend where he will face none other than Sporting.