Moutinho strengthens Sporting ties

João Moutinho and Tiago have signed new contracts with Sporting Clube de Portugal keeping them at the Lisbon outfit until 2013 and 2008 respectively.

Homegrown talent
Sporting will be particularly pleased to have tied their 20-year-old Portuguese international midfielder Moutinho to a six-year deal. A product of the renowned Sporting academy, he has enjoyed an impressive season, scoring four goals in 29 Liga games to help his side finish runners-up behind FC Porto and secure a place in the 2007/08 UEFA Champions League group stage.

'Happy ending'
"I feel wonderful because both parties wanted to renew my contract. It is a happy ending all round," said Moutinho, who broke into the Sporting team in 2004/05. Goalkeeper Tiago, meanwhile, has accepted a new one-year contract with the club he joined during the 1995/96 campaign. The 32-year-old has made 79 appearances for the Lions. Paulo Bento's men still have a chance of silverware this term as they face CF Os Belenenses in Sunday's Portuguese Cup final. "My first goal now is to help Sporting win the cup and we will do everything in our power to achieve that," Moutinho added.