14 March 2006, by Tom Kundert

Viana signs five-year Valencia deal

Hugo Viana has signed a contract keeping him at Valencia until 2011.

The former Sporting and Newcastle midfielder has regularly featured for high-flying Valencia and has done enough to persuade the Spanish club to exercise its option to make the deal permanent.

Newcastle have accepted Valencia’s offer for Viana, who plays alongside compatriot and international team-mate Miguel at the Mestalla.

Viana is currently recovering from an ankle knock and will be keen to impress in the closing months of the season to ensure his place in Portugal’s World Cup squad.

Valencia director of sport Javier Subirats was delighted to tie up the deal saying, “Viana has great potential and is a very interesting player for us.”

“He is a young and be playing at the World Cup and because of that we decided to close the transfer now.”