Two more Colombians land in Portugal

Two Colombian strikers made a massive impact in Portuguese football in recent years, Falcao and Jackson Martínez, scoring goals galore for FC Porto. Fredy Montero aims to emulate his compatriots after signing for Sporting earlier this week. Porto, meanwhile, continue their Colombian connection, wrapping up the acquisition of the highly rated Juan Quintero.

“I’m very happy and proud to have signed for Sporting, one of Portugal’s big clubs,” said the 25 year-old Montero. “I can promise lots of hard work and determination to help the team win games.”

 

Montero has four full Colombia caps to his name. He comes initially on a one-season loan from MLS side Seattle Sounders, with an option to make the deal permanent with a four-year contract at the end of the campaign.

 

Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho is in little doubt that the marksman will provide a plentiful supply of goals for Sporting over several seasons. “Fredy Montero will give us lots of joy. He’ll stay for five years. He’s a great player and we are very happy to have him.”

 

Montero will wear the number 17 shirt. “It’s the number I’ve worn in the last five or six years and with which I’ve scored lots of goals. I’m very fond of this number,” he explained.

 

Porto splash out for Quintero

Champions FC Porto have again turned to a market that has served them so well in recent years. As well as Falcao and Jackson, fellow Colombians Fredy Guarín and James Rodríguez were big hits at the Estádio do Dragão, while young left-back Quiñones looks a promising prospect for the future.

 

Juan Quintero is the latest player from the South American country to sign for the Dragons. Porto paid €5 million for 50% ownership of the 20 year-old, who boosted his chances of a big-money move after a brilliant showing at the recent Under-20 World Cup. Quintero’s release clause is a cool €40 million, and he has signed a four-year contract.

“This is a big step in my life, and a huge opportunity. I hope to live up to expectations,” said the player, after joining his new team-mates on their current pre-season tour of South America, in Bogota. “I’ve come to a great club and I’m going to play in the Champions League. I’m at a club that has full belief in Colombian players. At the moment it is the ideal club for me.”

 

The Portuguese Liga’s penchant for South Americans has also been in evidence at Benfica, who confirmed the signing of Argentine attacking midfielder Luis Fariña on a 5-year contract. “I know that Benfica is the club with the most paying members in the world and this means a lot to me. It’s not just any player who gets to sign for Benfica. I’m very proud to wear the team shirt,” said the 22 year-old.

 

Pizzi heading to the Luz

Ex Braga, Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruña player Pizzi is also reportedly on the cusp of signing for Benfica. The Portugal winger was heavily linked with a move to Sporting in recent weeks, but it now appears he will be running out for the red half of Lisbon in 2013/14. The transfer is yet to be made official.

 

Bruma, Cardozo and Martínez fuel the rumour mill

As ever at this time of year rumours are spreading like wildfire all over the written press and the internet. In normal circumstances Sporting, Benfica and FC Porto fans would be looking forward to the new season in the expectation that Bruma, Oscar Cardozo and Jackson Martínez would be firing in the goals for their respective clubs.

 

However, Bruma’s ugly contract wrangling shows little sign of being resolved any time soon, while Cardozo appears to have played his last game for Benfica. The Paraguayan striker has paid a heavy price for his show of indiscipline at the end of the Portuguese Cup final when he pushed and remonstrated with coach Jorge Jesus following the 2-1 defeat to Vitória Guimarães. A transfer to Fenerbahçe has been widely expected to happen, although the Turkish club are trying to lower Benfica’s €15 million asking price.

 

Meanwhile, last season’s top scorer in the Liga, Jackson Martínez is reportedly a top target of Italian club Napoli. Some media outlets go as far as to say agreement has been reached between the club and the player, but a curt message by Martínez on Facebook suggests otherwise: “These are lies just to sell. I want to stay at FC Porto,” said the prolific marksman.