Roma reject heads to Portugal
Thursday, January 30, 2003
Article summary
AS Roma's Brazilian forward Fábio Júnior has joined Portuguese side Vitória Guimarães on loan.
Article body
First option
Guimarães chairman António Pimenta Machado has secured a deal that will give the Super Liga club first option on a permanent move for the Brazilian Under-23 international next December.
Out to impress
Fábio Júnior, a €17m signing by Roma from C. Atlético Mineiro in 1998, said: "I am delighted to have this chance with Vitória - it is a great opportunity to show what I can do in European football." The 25-year-old spent last year on loan with Brazilian team Cruzeiro EC after finding limited opportunities in the Italian capital.
Show of faith
"It was unfortunate that [Roma] coach Fabio Capello did not like my style of play, and I want to start repaying the faith this club [Guimarães] has shown in my abilities," he said.
Scoring form
Having made just nine Serie A appearances, Fábio Júnior returned to Brazil to play first for SE Palmeiras then for Cruzeiro, where he scored 23 times in 2002. Pimenta Machado, who described the transfer as "extraordinary", was re-elected as Guimarães president last weekend.
