Manú delight at AEK move
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Article summary
AEK Athens FC have taken SL Benfica midfielder Manú on a year-long loan with the option of making the deal permanent for a fee of €1.5m next summer.
Article body
Loan spells
The move as the latest in a fractious three years at Benfica for Manú, who joined the side from FC Alverca, but has never been able to settle. He had loan spells with Modena FC, AC Carpenedolo and CF Estrela da Amadora, before returning to Benfica to sign a four-year deal in June 2006. He made 12 appearances for the Lisbon outfit last term but is delighted at his new challenge. "I am very happy," said the winger, who has been capped 21 times by Portugal Under-21s.
Reunion
"From the first moment I heard AEK were interested in me I wanted to come to Greece. AEK are a big side and I have heard great things from my Benfica team-mate [Konstantinos] Katsouranis. I am also very happy to meet up again with my former teammates Marcelo Moretto and Gustavo Manduca, after our time together at Benfica." AEK trail Sevilla FC 2-0 in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round second leg on Monday.