Alvalade awaits Mota's arrival

Loan move
The 24-year-old will arrive in the Portuguese capital in the next few days to sign a contract and will spend the rest of the season on loan with Sporting after which they have the option of taking him on a three-and-a-half year contract.

Long-term hope
Although the SuperLiga leaders have not confirmed the deal, Mota - whose full name is João Soares da Mota Neto - spoke as a Sporting player when he said: "I can promise the Sporting supporters that I will honour the club shirt." He added: "I know that I am not going only for six months. I will stay in Portugal for a long time."

Eligible for Europe
Mota is eligible to be registered for Sporting's UEFA Cup campaign where they face the 2002 winners Feyenoord in the last 32 next month. They play the first leg on 16 February at their José Alvalade stadium, the venue for the final on 18 May.

Korean stay
As an 18-year-old Mota moved to RCD Mallorca in Spain, but suffered injury problems and found himself confined to the reserve team. He returned to Brazil and had spells with Ceará SC, Ferroviário AC and Cruzeiro EC, before spending last year at Chunnam Dragons in the Korean Republic. Mota scored 14 goals in 22 matches in the Far East, helping the club finish fourth in the K-League.