Tuesday 16 December 2008

Brazil: Rafael Carioca Seals Spartak Move; Leo To Follow?

Gremio midfielder Rafael Carioca completed his €8million move to Spartak Moscow on Tuesday, signing a five-year contract with the Russian side after undergoing a medical examination at the club's training facilities.

Carioca, 19, will join his fellow Brazilians Mozart and Welliton at the Luzhniki Stadium and could soon have another familar name in his midst, with young Gremio defender Leo possibly set to follow him to Moscow.

Spartak are keen on the twenty-year old central defender and have made an offer, thought to be in the region of €4million, for his services.

"Negotiations have opened," agent Evandro Schmitt told Globoesporte.

If a deal is to be struck, then Gremio are hopeful of keeping Leo on board for their Copa Libertadores campaign in the first half of 2009, although Schmitt suggests that this may not be possible.

"[Gremio] are highly-motivated to keep him for now, but the financial needs of the club may force the issue," he explained.

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