PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 02 January 2012 09:48

Sporting bolster defence with Xandao capture

Brazilian centre-back signs 18-month loan deal

XandaoSporting have moved to strengthen their options in the centre of defence with the signing of Sao Paulo centre-back, Xandao. The Brazilian will arrive in Lisbon on Thursday to undertake the mandatory medical tests and sign an 18-month loan contract.
 
“He’s happy. He knows he’s going to move from one great club to another great club,” Xandao’s agent, Marcio Rivellino, told Maisfutebol. “I have total confidence in his capacity to make it in European football. I know him well, and I know he’s going to fit into European football easily. He’s tall, fast and has good technique,” added Rivellino.

The player will continue to belong to Brazilian agency Traffic, who own 85% of Xandao’s registration. As well as paying for a season and a half long loan, Sporting also have an option to purchase the 23-year-old for a fee believed to be three million euros.
 
Xandao will boost Sporting’s strength in the air in defence, a recognised weakness in recent years, albeit addressed somewhat this season upon the contracting and good form of giant American centre-back Oguchi Onyewu.
 
Standing 1.93m (6ft 3in) tall and weighing in at 88kg, coach Domingos Paciencia may look to pair Xandao with Onyewu at the heart of the Lisbon club’s defence in an effort to create an imposing barrier.
 
Tom Kundert

Follow PortuGOAL on Twitter and Facebook  

Comments (8)
@Ivo
8 Tuesday, 03 January 2012 23:20
Good point you made, I just want to bring to your attention that, at least in my experience, Goal.com is second only to Bettor.com when it comes to supplying dubious, incorrect, misleading, and false information. I would take anything they say, as my grandmother used to say, "with a grain of salt"... I do agree a combo of Xandao and Oneywu would be intimidating, kind of like, say, Luisao and Garay?
Promising
7 Tuesday, 03 January 2012 17:53
I haven't seen this guy play, but it seems like he has been attracting interest from at least one other big European club, AS Roma, who were reportedly tracking him in November as they are in need of a CB. Contrary to the anecdotal assesment provided by Issac/US, a report appearing on Goal.com suggests that "the towering defender has put in a string of impressive performances for Sao Paulo this season." Many people thought Onyewu would be ineffective for Sporting but he's turned out to be a great acquisition as I knew he would have if he managed to stay fit.

If this guy has what it takes it may turn out to be a great gamle for Sporting. An Onyewu/Xandao partnership would be very intimidating.
Lets not over value
6 Tuesday, 03 January 2012 05:11
I think that fans aren't realizing that Carrico just might not be worth clamoring for.
Xandao
5 Tuesday, 03 January 2012 04:06
I hope this guy turns out to be decnt, sporting have been Screaming for a centre half for years !! The defence is their weakest link !
P.S. carrico is NOT a good central defender, he is a disaster..maybe in the next lifetime, not this one !!
Dud
4 Tuesday, 03 January 2012 02:41
This guy is tall but he's a lousy player. A freind of mine from Brazil who is a huge fan of Sao Paulo says that this guy stinks and he doesn't even play with the first team. He's around 23 and plays on the Sao Paulo B team. He would make a great addition to Braganca FC but not Sporting lol
?
3 Monday, 02 January 2012 21:59
Now we have 5 CBs. I think this was a pointless capture and now it gives Carrico even less of a chance to develop.
Height
2 Monday, 02 January 2012 18:16
I read an article the other day on either A Bola or Record, I can't quite remember which publication, but in it the article described how if paired together, the Onyewu and Xandao combo will be the tallest centerback duo playing in the major big European leagues (EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, Liga Zon Sagres, Ligue 1 and the Eredivisie). I'll see if I can find the link. I hope Xandao can contribute and turn out to be a good player.
Xandao
1 Monday, 02 January 2012 14:35
is it paciencia's best way to bench carrico?i don't think so..

Add your comment

Name/Country:
Subject:
Comment:
yvComment v.1.21.1