Groningen get their man
Wednesday, February 5, 2003
Article summary
FC Groningen have finally managed to sign striker Brian Pinas after failing the first time around.
Article body
FC Groningen have finally managed to sign striker Brian Pinas a year after first making attempts to acquire his services.
Second time lucky
Groningen first tried to sign Pinas from Feyenoord for €340,000 in 2001 but the Dutch giants refused the offer. Instead they signed Frenchman Pedro Kamata but he soon became homesick, leaving Groningen with Pius Ikedia, on loan from AFC Ajax, as a stop-gap signing.
Three-year deal
However, a year on Feyenoord were willing to let the 24-year-old Pinas leave, as Robin van Persie, Anthony Lurling and Leonardo were all further up the pecking order than Pinas at the Rotterdam club. Pinas has now signed a three-year contract at the Oosterpark.
Important move
"Groningen is a great club with an even better crowd,'' Pinas told Feyenoord's official website. "And apart from that I noticed that they wanted me very badly. That is important for me. I have a very good feeling about this transfer.'' Joining Pinas at Groningen is defender Antoine van der Linden, who has signed a two-year deal after moving from BVO Emmen.