Farense completed their most profitable transfer ever as 28-year-old Brazilian forward, and last season’s top scorer with 13 goals, Bruno Duarte joined Serbian serial champions Red Star Belgrade for €2 million last weekend.
However, that deal may soon be eclipsed as negotiations with Marseille for €6 million-rated winger Mohamed Belloumi are said to be drawing to a close. On the way in is 25-year-old midfielder Filipe Soares on loan from top Greek club PAOK Thessaloniki who spent last season at Famalicão under a similar temporary arrangement.
Meanwhile, Farense lost a training match against Benfica 5-0 with new keeper Kaique showing up well until withdrawing injured just before the half-hour mark. His replacement Miguel Carvalho then saw a handful of goals fly in while last season’s number one Ricardo Velho, at one time closely linked with Watford, watched from the bench still recovering from a sprained hand sustained in May.
Now Liga Portugal 2 Portimonense have further reduced their squad by sending forwards Yago Cariello (Ulsan, South Korea), Bryan Rochez (Petro de Luanda, Angola) and Ricardo Matos (Gloria Buzau, Romania) out on loan while approving the permanent transfers of Luquinha and Igor Formiga to Brazilian sides Botafogo and Novorizontino respectively. Two new arrivals are ex-Vila Nova midfielder Geovane and Nigerian ex-Covilhã forward Elijah Benedict with Mohamed Diaby returning from a season-long loan at Sheffield Wednesday.
A number of Algarve pre-season friendlies have been confirmed with Sporting Lisbon, currently in residence at their by-now-usual Cascade Wellness Resort training complex in Lagos, taking on Farense next Tuesday morning, July 23, behind closed doors before meeting Seville at the Stadium of the Algarve that same evening for an 8pm kick-off.
After this week’s Resident went to press, Sporting will have also played Portimonense and Belgian side St.Gilloise last Wednesday. Ronaldo club Al Nassr – minus the on-holiday Cristiano Ronaldo himself – are also in the region and most recently drew 1-1 with Louletano. Further matches with Marítimo this Friday, Farense on Saturday, Portimonense next Wednesday and Lusitano VRSA on the 30th, albeit all behind closed doors, are scheduled over the next two weeks.
By SKIP BANDELE
