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| Thursday, 23 June 2011 19:08 |
Parma make double Portuguese swoop for Brandao and Mario Rui“This is a leap in my career” - Brandao Italian club Parma are set to increase their Portuguese contingent after agreeing deals for Benfica left-back Mario Rui and international defender Goncalo Brandao.
The Gialloblu reached an agreement with fellow Serie A outfit Siena over a loan move for 24-year-old stopper Brandao (pictured) on Wednesday, bringing in the former Belenenses man on a one-year deal. Brandao, who missed out on a switch to Juventus last summer due to injury, was delighted to seal the move to the Ennio Tardini. “I am happy. Parma had attempted to sign me in January but the deal fell through. Now, over the last day, the loan move has been agreed,” he said. “Parma is one of the biggest names in Italy; they have won European competitions and always builds a team to play in Europe. It is a leap in my career. I have worked hard for this kind of opportunity in recent years and now, thankfully, it has become a reality. I am excited and just want to start the season.” Related article: Brandao reflects on injury blow Parma already have two Portuguese on their books, with ex-Benfica midfielder Danilo Pereira, who spent last season on loan with Aris FC in Greece, and Filipe Oliveira, formerly of Braga, both recruited last summer. Follow PortuGOAL on Twitter and Facebook |
He wasn't a Benfica youth product, right.
Veloso is well on his way to being one.
According to Genoa's president, Eduardo might be one as well.
Let me add that Almeida isn't. He played well at Werder Bremen and wasn't a big money signing.
Then again, Veloso wasn't either.
A real flop would be, for example, Fábio Paim, who I had been following closely from young age. With better support he could have become amazing.
Both Paulo Sousa and Rui Costa excelled outside Portugal, and although Manuel Fernandes didn't make the impact he should have (considering his potential) he's far from being a flop.
Ah, and for the record: I'm not a Benfica supporter, I support Académica de Coimbra.
By the way, Mário Rui spent only one year in Benfica's academy, he is mostly a Sporting youth player.
Serie A clubs have always dismissed the Europa League and their 4th CL squad always got knocked out early. Meaning that their Top 3, Milan, Inter and ??? would have to preform exceptionally well in the CL in order to keep their coefficient up.
Unlike in the EPL, it didn't happen. In the EPL the Top 4 always seem to make it very deep into the CL, although they too ignore the Europa League, Fulham notwithstanding.
With Inter really going through and upheavel, Juve out of European play and Napoli finally back into it, it would mean that only Milan has any real shot.
Juve will be going hard after a CL spot since it will be down to three, as will Milan and Inter. I'm not sure if Napoli can play on all fronts and I know that Udi can't. With Roma also going through a change over, I could see France passing Italy in the coefficient and Portugal edging closer.
Crazy.