Naldo lays down roots at Bremen

Central defender Naldo has committed his future to Werder Bremen, agreeing a three-year contract extension to keep him at the Weserstadion until 2012.

'Very happy here'
The Brazilian's deal was due to expire in summer 2009, but after Torsten Frings renewed his commitment to the Bundesliga team yesterday, the 24-year-old - recruited from EC Juventude in 2005 - has signed on the dotted line. "I am very happy here in Bremen and my family feels at home," he said. "I have improved a lot and can continue to do so."

Exceeding expectations
"Naldo has become one of the Bundesliga's top players in a very short time," said sporting director Klaus Allofs. "His development has been even more impressive than we had hoped." Coach Thomas Schaaf added: "When he came here, no one knew his name. He has changed that, especially this season, when he made it into the Brazilian national squad. Basically, that says it all." Naldo has played 62 Bundesliga games, scoring six goals, most of them trademark free-kicks. Bremen are third in the Bundesliga with two matches remaining, two points behind leaders FC Schalke 04 and certain of UEFA Champions League qualification.