13 June 2007, by Tom Kundert

Recreativo Huelva sign Carlos Martins and Silvestre Varela

Martins pens 4-year deal; Varela signs season-long loan

Carlos Martins and Silvestre Varela are to join their former Sporting team-mate Beto at Spanish club Recreativo Huelva. The deals were tied up thanks to a partnership established between Huelva and the Lisbon club.

Talented but temperamental midfielder Martins has signed a four-year contract, while Sporting shall retain 40% of the player’s sporting and economic rights.

Martins started 2006/07 in fine form, even earning a call-up by Luiz Filipe Scolari into the Portugal senior squad, but his form quickly went downhill and the midfielder did not feature at all in Paulo Bento’s team during the second half of the season.

The creative midfielder will be looking to make a fresh start and recapture the form that made many pundits tip him for a brilliant future.

Varela loan

Striker Varela, currently in Holland playing for Portugal’s U-21 team in the European Championships, has penned a season-long loan deal with the Spaniards.

Known as ‘the Drogba of Caparica’, Varela spent last season on loan at Setubal, standing out in a struggling team despite notching only 2 goals in 30 matches.

The two will team up with former Sporting captain Beto, who has enjoyed a successful debut season at the club from Andalusia.


Related article: Beto signs for Recreativo Huelva