Deco set to sign for Fluminense
Reuters - Saturday 07 August 2010, 20:58
RIO DE JANEIRO - Former Portugal midfielder
Deco is returning home to his native Brazil to join Fluminense,
the Rio de Janeiro club said on Saturday.
The 32-year-old will make the move after two years at
English Premier League champions Chelsea, where he failed to
make the expected impact due to injury and poor form.
"After intense negotiations, the player, who took part at
two World Cups, has been released by the English club and will
sign a two-year contract," 'Flu' said on their website.
The club added that the former Porto and Barcelona player
would be officially presented on Monday.
Deco, full name Anderson Luis de Souza, was born near Sao
Paulo and began his career with Corinthians where he barely made
an impression before leaving to join Benfica in 1997.
He made his name after joining Porto two years later and was
given Portuguese nationality in 2002.
Amid great controversy, he was picked by Portugal coach, and
fellow Brazilian, Luiz Felipe Scolari the following year. He
made his debut in a friendly against Brazil and celebrated by
scoring the winner as Portugal won 2-1.
Deco played in two World Cups for Portugal - 2006 and 2010
- and two European championships helping them reach the final
on home soil in 2004.
He won the Champions League with Porto in 2004 and then
again with Barcelona two seasons later.
Brazilian players often return to finish their careers at
home, but the fact that Deco has played for another country
makes his case more unusual.
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