Cris completes Lyon transfer
Monday, August 23, 2004
Article summary
Olympique Lyonnais have signed Brazilian international defender Cris from Cruzeiro EC for a €3.5m fee.
Article body
Copa cheer
The 27-year-old full back, who has 14 caps for his country and was part of the Brazil side that recently lifted the Copa América, has agreed a four-year contract with the UEFA Champions League contenders, having arrived in France on Friday for a medical.
Brazilian boost
Cris said that glowing reports from two fellow Brazilians had been a key factor in his decision to move to the Stade Gerland: "Juninho [Pernambucano] and Edmílson always spoke positively about Lyon, a good club with a good atmosphere."
New-look defence
Lyon, who sold defensive duo Edmílson and Patrick Müller this summer, had been tracking Cris for some time, with head scout Bernard Lacombe making several trips to South America to watch the player. Cris, who had a brief loan spell at German club Bayer 04 Leverkusen in 2002/03, won the Brazilian championship twice, with SC Corinthians Paulista in 1998 and Cruzeiro in 2003.
