Fabio Rochemback returns to Sporting

Brazilian to pen three-year deal today

Brazilian midfielder Fabio Rochemback is to return to Sporting, putting pen to paper on a three-year contract with the Lisbon club. Barring any last-minute hitches the Middlesbrough player will undertake a medical and sign on the dotted line today.

“I can’t hide that I like Sporting a lot,” said Rochemback yesterday, before revealing that he was close to returning to the Lions in January. “Tomorrow (today) we’ll talk and hopefully everything will be agreed. It will be good to go on holiday with everything signed.”

The Brazilian travels to his homeland on Wednesday for the summer break after playing his final game for Middlesbrough on Sunday, scoring in the 8-1 demolition of Manchester City.

However, the former Barcelona player has struggled to make an impact at the Premiership club, and returns to Sporting on a free transfer.

Several clubs were reportedly interested in signing the former Brazil international, but that fact that Rochemback enjoyed a successful spell at Sporting from 2003 to 2005 proved a decisive factor.

He still has many friends at the club, especially compatriots Liedson and Polga. Sporting fans will be hopeful that the return of Rochemback will also persuade star striker Liedson to remain at Alvalade.

As reported last week by PortuGOAL, Rochemback is just one of three former Sporting players the club are expected to re-sign this close season, the other two being Marco Caneira and Hugo Viana.


Related: Sporting linked to swoops for trio of old boys