Benfica bring in goalkeeper Roberto
Friday, June 25, 2010
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UEFA Champions League group stage contenders SL Benfica have signed 24-year-old goalkeeper Roberto from UEFA Europa League holders Club Atlético de Madrid for an €8.5m fee.
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Club Atlético de Madrid goalkeeper Roberto has joined SL Benfica in an €8.5m deal having impressed in the final months of last season while on loan at Real Zaragoza.
The 24-year-old – full name, Roberto Jiménez Gago – has signed a five-season contract with the Lisbon side, who will compete in this season's UEFA Champions League group stage after winning the Portuguese title.
A product of the Atlético youth academy, he has also played for Gimnàstic de Tarragona and RC Recreativo de Huelva, and was loaned to Zaragoza in the second half of last season. Capped several times at Under-21 level by Spain, Roberto made just four league appearances at Atlético, where he found his path to a regular first team-place blocked by Sergio Asenjo and then David de Gea.