Bruno Alves signing strengthens Zenit's hand
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
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FC Zenit St. Petersburg have given a further signal of their intentions this season with the €22m signing of Portuguese international central defender Bruno Alves from FC Porto.
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FC Zenit St. Petersburg have continued their summer spending by signing Portuguese international defender Bruno Alves from FC Porto for €22m.
The centre-back, 28, joins the Russian Premier-Liga leaders on a four-year contract and becomes Zenit's third significant purchase in recent weeks following the arrival of striker Aleksandr Bukharov from FC Rubin Kazan and defender Aleksandar Luković from Udinese Calcio.
Bruno Alves, who links up with international team-mates Danny and Fernando Meira at the Petrovsky Stadium, won four Liga titles and three Portuguese Cups during a five-year spell with Porto in which he scored 14 goals in 119 Liga appearances. He has been capped 35 times by Portugal and played in all four of their matches at the FIFA World Cup this summer.
Luciano Spalletti's team have already lifted the Russian Cup this season and top the Premier-Liga by nine points after 15 games. They host FC Unirea Urziceni in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round tie tonight with the scores level at 0-0.
