Fabiano returns to Sao Paulo
Reuters - Saturday 12 March 2011, 00:31
SAO PAULO - Brazil's World Cup striker
Luis Fabiano has rejoined Sao Paulo from Sevilla for 7.6 million
euros, the Brazilian club said on Friday.
"It is the realisation of a dream and a gift for all the Sao
Paulo community," club president Juvenal Juvencio told the
club's website.
"Luis Fabiano has a 'tricolour' soul and will bring to our
team the quality, fun, irreverence and fighting spirit that have
always characterised him."
The 30-year-old, who led the line for Brazil at the World
Cup finals in South Africa last year, signed a four-year deal
with Sao Paulo after becoming unsettled in his sixth season with
Sevilla when he lost a regular starting place in the team.
According to Sao Paulo, negotiations to bring Luis Fabiano
home went on for more than four months owing to competition from
European clubs.
"The striker gave up his annual remuneration, which in Spain
is paid at the end of each season, (to help the move go
through)," the club said.
"Money isn't everything in life. Nothing pays for the
happiness I feel at wearing again the shirt of the team of my
heart," Luis Fabiano told the club's website.
'FABULOUS ONE'
The player had agreed a contract extension with Sevilla
until 2013 in August but injuries and inconsistency have dogged
him this year, although he leaves them as their joint top scorer
in La Liga with 10 goals.
Luis Fabiano, who joined Sevilla from Porto in 2005 and went
on to score 106 goals for them in all competitions, had become
unhappy at being used as a substitute under new coach Gregorio
Manzano.
"A great player is leaving who will always be remembered as
one of the best players to have worn a Sevilla shirt," the
Spanish club said on their website.
"We wish him all the best in this next stage of his career
with Sao Paulo, the club where he earned the nickname the
'Fabulous One', which will always be with him."
Earlier this week, Luis Fabiano was ruled out for six weeks
with a knee injury picked up in Sevilla's 2-0 defeat at Athletic
Bilbao, which left them seventh in the standings.
Luis Fabiano, who helped Sevilla win back-to-back UEFA Cups
in 2006 and 2007 and the King's Cup in 2007 and 2010, will be
officially presented to the media by Sao Paulo on March 30.
After starting his career with Ponte Preta in 1997, he had a
spell with Stade Rennes in France before joining Sao Paulo in
2001 and became one of their most prolific scorers with 118
goals in 160 matches, earning a move to Porto in 2004.
He helped Brazil win the 2004 Copa America and the 2009
Confederations Cup. He was one of Brazil's few successes at the
2010 World Cup finals where they lost to Netherlands in the
quarter-finals.