Stankevičius settles on Sevilla switch
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
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Sevilla FC have begun strengthening ahead of next month's UEFA Champions League resumption, signing Lithuanian international right-back Marius Stankevičius, 28, on loan from UC Sampdoria.
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Sevilla FC have signed Lithuanian international defender Marius Stankevičius on loan from UC Sampdoria until the end of the season.
'Very happy'
Capped 49 times by his country, the 28-year-old is mainly utilised at right-back but also offers options in central defence, and Sevilla have the option to make the move permanent in the summer. "I'm very happy and want to make the most of this opportunity," he said. Stankevičius started his career in his homeland with FK Ekranas before joining Brescia Calcio in 2001. After seven years at the Stadio Mario Rigamonti he moved to Sampdoria in summer 2008 and featured for them in last season's Coppa Italia final defeat by S.S. Lazio.
CSKA test
He also briefly appeared for Sampdoria as a substitute in a 1-0 victory over Sevilla in the group stage of last season's UEFA Cup. Stankevičius, who was sent off in his final game for Sampdoria, a 3-1 defeat at AS Livorno Calcio on 20 December, provides cover for Sergio Sánchez who has been sidelined for an unspecified period because of a heart complaint. Sevilla are away to PFC CSKA Moskva in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie on 24 February.