Bruno Alves swaps Zenit for Fenerbahçe
Thursday, June 6, 2013
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Portugual centre-back Bruno Alves has joined Fenerbahçe SK from fellow UEFA Champions League third qualifying round entrants FC Zenit in a €5.5m deal.
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Turkish Süper Lig runners-up Fenerbahçe SK have strengthened their defensive options with the signing of Bruno Alves from FC Zenit.
The centre-back has agreed a three-year deal with the Istanbul outfit, who will pay Zenit €5.5m for the Portuguese international's services. In joining the Yellow Canaries, Bruno Alves will link up with compatriot and former FC Porto team-mate Raul Meireles.
Capped 63 times by his country, the big defender is Fenerbahçe's second significant purchase in recent weeks following the arrival of highly rated midfielder Alper Potuk from Eskişehirspor.
A two-time Premier-Liga champion with Zenit, Bruno Alves had moved to Russia from Porto in August 2010 for €22m, registering three goals in 100 appearances for the club.
The 31-year-old was a key man in Porto's three successive title wins between 2006/07 and 2008/09, missing just five Liga games, and was appointed captain after the departure of Lucho González to Olympique de Marseille in summer 2009.
Zenit and Fenerbahçe start their 2013/14 UEFA Champions League campaigns in the third qualifying round.
