FC Porto steal in for Benfica target Alvaro Pereira

Uruguayan left-back signs 5-year deal for the Dragons

FC Porto have signed Uruguayan left-back Alvaro Pereira. The Portuguese champions paid Romanian side CFR Cluj 4.5m euros for 80% ownership of the player, who had been on the verge of signing for Benfica last month.

Benfica were involved in advanced talks with Cluj for Pereira in mid May but negotiations hit a stumbling block. The Portuguese champions took advantage of the impasse to sign the defender from under the noses of their bitter rivals.

A club statement reads: “This purchase was made for 4.5m euros, whereby FC Porto acquired 80 percent ownership of the player. The player has agreed a contract valid for the next five years with the club, which runs until 30 June 2014. The buyout clause is 20m euros.”

The 24-year-old Pereira joins fellow Uruguayan internationals Fucile and Cristian Rodriguez at the Estadio do Dragao, and will provide stern competition for Cissokho in the left-back position.

by Tom Kundert