After several days of speculation it was confirmed on Wednesday evening that Portugal midfielder Miguel Veloso has signed for Dynamo Kiev. The 26-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year contract for the Ukrainian outfit. Details regarding the transfer fee and wages were undisclosed.
Veloso, who has spent the last two seasons at Genoa, had been reported as an AC Milan target, but the former Sporting player will now be playing his football in the same country where he excelled during Euro 2012.
Dynamo were runners-up behind Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine last season, but are chronic title contenders, having won the championship 13 times - more than any other team. The fact the club plays regular Champions League football weighed in Veloso’s decision.
“Dynamo is a very prestigious club. I liked the fact it’s a team with a great history and big ambitions and the fact I get to play in the Champions League,” Veloso told the official club website. “I knew other clubs were interested, but Dynamo was the one that was most persistent in the negotiations.”
Although Veloso is Dynamo’s sole Portuguese player, he will no doubt be helped in his adaptation phase by four Brazilians in the squad.
by Tom Kundert
Related:
Miguel Veloso PortuGOAL profile
Portugal midfielder swaps Italy for Ukraine
He can possibly win the Europe League with Kiev.
first and foremost, Porto and Benfica can't afford the wages given by Kiev.
Second, I believe Porto and Benfica expect to get more for their defensive mids than the 10-15 mil. And if that's all they'll get, why sell and bring in a higher wage that won't command much more in two years.
Third, Veloso is in that in between stage in age and contracts. Being 26 years old, he might still get a bigger look in two years. But he needs to earn the most now.
Fourth, what makes you think he wanted to come back to Portugal?
As for Moutinho, I actually agree that he would fit Man United better. My biggest concern would be him getting pushed off the ball too easily. Someone like Axel would actually be a better fit, but I want hm to stay at Benfica.
I actually think he would be a bad fit at Spurs. He's not a direct replacement for Modric, due to style of play, and the Spurs could be losing quite a bit.
He could get very good looks at Chelsea, Lamps is old now, but Meireles would be moved. He might be moved anyways.
The Nani saga is getting interesting. As soon as he comes out and says the contract negotiations are progressing nicely, a City move for him is mentioned.
From what I've read, Manchester United and Tottenham are the front runners, but Chelsea is also interested in Moutinho. AVB may tempt Moutinho to go to Tottenham, but I think that Man United would be the better choice. Tottenham's got a great team, but they won't be in the champions league. United, on the other hand, are real contenders in the champions league.
Moutinho will also suit United's style of play, and I think that he'd fit in nicely in a 4-2-3-1 alongside Carrick and behind an attacking trio of Nani, Kagawa, and Valencia. Moutinho is one of Europe's best midfielders, so he'll excel at both clubs, but I think that Manchester United would be the best fit for him.
Veloso really made a believer out of me in Euro 2012... before then, I really didn't see how he fit with the Seleccao. Now, it's easy to think back about how important his role was and how well he performed it. He and Moutinho were our standout midfielders in this tournament. Meireles might've actually been the only Portugal player to not play up to his standards during Euro 2012.
By the way, if he became like Danny he would be thrilled. Danny is loved by the fans, he's been honored as one of the leagues best players and he's paid really well.
People are also assuming that "big" clubs came calling. Nobody in Portugal could afford his wage demands and I didn't hear Newcastle, Malaga, etc... came calling.
90% of the time (or more) Veloso will be playing in the Ukrainian domestic league where the quality of play is nowhere near as high as in Italy or Portugal. This will not make him a better player, even if he is guaranteed to start every match. Since the financial details were not revealed, for Kiev to have pulled this off I imagine that the pay day was quite large particularly given the timing, since Veloso's stock has to have risen considerably after Portugal's strong showing at the Euro.
He would have done much better to have attempted to move to a stronger league and team that gave him the opportuntiy to start on a regular basis. I know Genoa is a poor team and in that respect Kiev may be a step up...but only slightly when we consider how poort the Ukrainian league is. I would have preferred a move to a team like Newcastle, Valencia, Marseilles or even Malaga than this move.
Poor decision.
If he would've signed a less lucrative deal and then tear his knee ligaments in the first year, he will never get a chance to recoup that lost money.
He gets to be a starter and he will play in the CL so it's not all negative, there are some positives.
Good Luck MV!
Yeah, he had a good Euro, but he's not good enough to be a regular starter for a top european team.
@Miggy: Actually, contrary to what you say, most Portuguese supporters see him as an average player (at least the ones with whom I speak regularly). And Nuno's move is not so bad either: he's 36, and although there are good strikers of that age out there, he's always been more of a set up player, so it's difficult to be first choice; he wasn't even playing in Braga, so he couldn't hope for much. Hope he gets playing time and finishes his career in good style with Blackburn's promotion.
Anyway Dynamo Kiev deserve respect, they are a huge club, arguably the biggest club in Eastern Europe, with a great history and massive following. They have lost out to Shakhtar in recent years, but will always be fighting for the title, and as long as Ukraine has two representatives in the CL, then Veloso will be playing in it. All the best in his new adventure!!!
Is it a coincidence that quaresma and almeida have become more and more average since they went to a weaker league in turkey?
he might need to take a 'snood' with him.
and dinamo will play in CL..he's still 26,if he can play well in ukraine..he soon would be transferred to bigger teams in the top league like ManU,Barca,Milan,Madrid an so on...
please guys don't lose your faith in MV,he will remain as our first choice DM in Seleccao..as long as he perform well with Dinamo..
Good luck Veloso for the new challenge!! Kiev is your new home today,.
I just hope that he doesn't rot away like Almeida did in Turkey. Veloso is a classy holding midfielder in his prime, so this move makes little sense to me. He would have been an excellent fit in Milan...
Yes it's the Ukraine, but he'll be in the CL, 3rd qualifiers, and should they advance, he'll be able to show himself. Dynamo Kiev is always in the hunt for first in the league as well, so CL play should continue.
Veloso is 26, but he just may have one more opportunity at a bigger league with a bigger club.
OH and Nuno Gomes has signed for Blackburn. What the hell..!?
Anyway, hope it works out for Veloso and he does not lose out on the form he gained.