Sporting to sign Brazilian striker

Rodrigo Tiui: “It’s a good opportunity for me”

Brazilian striker Rodrigo Tiui arrived this morning in Lisbon and is set to become Sporting’s first January transfer window reinforcement.

Having terminated his contract with Fluminense in December, the 22-year-old arrives on a free transfer and he is hoping the move will prove a big step in his career.

“It’s a good opportunity. I’m not a Sporting player yet, because I have to do the medical tests first. But I hope everything goes well,” he said upon arrival in the Portuguese capital.

“I know Pedro Silva (Sporting full-back), who’s a special friend of mine, so that will make it easy for me to get to know the city and the club. But I can’t say much now.

“First I want to get to know the city and learn everything that can help me to adapt in the best possible way.”

Liedson clone?

So just who is Rodrigo Bonifacio da Rocha, known to the football world by his nickname Tiui?

He came through the ranks at Fluminense, who he played for in 2004 and 2005. He has also played for Noroeste and Santos, scoring at a steady but unspectacular rate. But upon returning to his original club he played 19 matches and scored 13 goals in 2007.

Tiui is 1.77 m tall and weighs 64 kg, and is therefore of similar build to Sporting’s star striker Liedson. Sporting fans will be overjoyed should he have the same impact at Alvalade as his compatriot.