AEK make Manduca move

Brazilian midfielder Gustavo Manduca has swapped one UEFA Champions League contender for another in leaving SL Benfica for AEK Athens FC.

Loan deal
The attack-minded 26-year-old has agreed a season-long loan with the Greek club who have an option to buy him next summer. Manduca had been with Benfica since January, scoring one goal in 16 games. He spent the previous two campaigns with CS Marítimo, registering eleven times in 46 league appearances. Both AEK and Benfica will enter the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round next week, with AEK travelling to Heart of Midlothian FC for their first leg on Wednesday, the day after Benfica visit FK Austria Wien.