The three players arrived at Alvalade on loan following a mega-move by the Lions in the United Kingdom brokered by English-born Israeli businessman Pini Zahavi. By the end of this issue, the agreement was all but sealed, with only a few details remaining to be finalized regarding the three athletes’ upcoming trip to Lisbon over the next few days.
Pavlyuchenko and Bale are both Tottenham players. The first is a striker, a 28-year-old Russian who arrived in London at the beginning of last season from Spartak Moscow. With no place in manager Harry Redknapp’s squad, who placed him on the redundancy list, he is looking for a club to restart his career. The call option is worth nine million euros. Sporting pays 25 percent of the salary. Bale, a 20-year-old left-back for Wales, was not uncle Frank Lampard’s first choice and Sporting look like an opportunity to win minutes. In this case, lions do not have any right of preference. Previously, they left Miguel Veloso at the mercy of the Londoners, who, as of yesterday, had the opportunity to buy the midfielder.
And finally Zoran Tosic, a 22-year-old Serbian left midfielder linked to Manchester United and a long-time Lions player, as CM mentioned incidentally.
PONGOL: “ONE OR TWO YEARS”
Sinama Pongolle has not yet signed a contract with Sporting, but has already set a short-term goal: “I want to stay at Sporting for a year or two and then find a more interesting challenge.”
The French striker’s statements to L’Equipe following the revelation of the agreement between Madrid and Sporting show that his time with the Lions is just a phase in his career. “At the moment I have nothing to fear, we have to take risks. Portugal has made big transfers: Nani, Anderson, Ronaldo, Lisandro, Sissoko. This proves that the Portuguese league is seen by big clubs,” assured Pongolle. who still shows that he identifies with the greatness of Sporting: “I wanted a club that wanted me and trusted me. “Sporting plays in the Champions League or Europa League every season.” The player, who will cost between five and six million euros, is undergoing routine tests today before signing.
TRIO ALSO JOINS EUROPEAN LEAGUE
Pavlyuchenko, Tosic and Bale have something in common that sets them apart from another Leonin player, French striker Sinama Pongolle. In any case, they can be used in the Europa League, since Tottenham (Pavlyuchenko and Gareth Bale) are not participating in European competition this year, and Tosic has not played a single official minute for Manchester United. A tough reinforcement for Carlos Carvalhal and a European seal of high importance, especially considering that the Lions’ next opponents in the Europa League Round of 16 will be a Premier League side: Everton. Valuable assistance to the technical team and three additions ready for debut.
DESTINATIONS
RETURN TODAY
Leo’s team returns to work today (15:30) to prepare for the first round of the League Cup at the Sp. Braga stadium on Sunday (20:15, SIC).
YANNICK STRENGTHEN
Yannick has recovered from a broken fibula in his right leg and will be available to Carlos Carvalhal from today.
WILSON AND OVISO
Wilson Eduardo and Owuso (on loan to Real Massama), who have been working with the team, are not expected to return to team training.
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.