Betis add Assunçao to their arsenal

Marcos Assunçao has agreed a move to Real Betis Balompié from the Italian club AS Roma for €7m. The Brazilian international has signed a three-year contract with the Spanish Primera División side and will reportedly earn €1.2m per season.

Second summer signing
The midfield player is the second summer signing by the new Betis coach, Víctor Fernández, after striker Alfonso Pérez Muñoz arrived from FC Barcelona last week. Betis are strengthening their squad ahead of the forthcoming Spanish season and the UEFA Cup which they qualified for courtesy of finishing fifth in the Spanish top flight last season.

Joins up with Denilson
Assunçao joined Roma in 1999 from Clube de Regatas Flamengo in his homeland and the 25-year-old will join his Brazilian team-mate Denilson at Betis. "I know that the Betis supporters are excellent," Assunçao said, "and that they have a very good team with some superb players. The objectives will certainly be to win titles. I am very happy to play in the same team with Denilson. We are very good friends."

'Emphasis on the passing game'
Assunçao went on to describe the differences between the Italian and Spanish game. "The game in Spain is better for my skills," he said. "In Italy, football is far more physical. Power and speed are the main qualities needed. In Spain, the football is much more similar to the one played in Brazil, with more emphasis on the passing game, and I like it very much."