Meireles delight at new Porto deal
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Article summary
Portugal international midfielder Raul Meireles has followed Ricardo Qauresma's example and signed a new three-year contract with Portuguese champions FC Porto.
Article body
Raul Meireles has signed a three-year extension to his contract with FC Porto, tying him to the Portuguese champions until 2012.
'Very happy'
The 24-year-old midfielder's previous deal was due to expire in 2009 but the Portuguese international was keen to pledge his long-term future to the club. "I'm very happy with this new deal," the former Boavista FC player said. "It's a sign that the people here trust my work. Everybody knows how I feel about Porto and the fact the club cares a lot about me made it easier to reach this agreement."
In form
The announcement comes two days after international team-mate Ricardo Quaresma signed a new deal as Porto look to consolidate their place at the top of the Portuguese game. Porto hold an eleven-point lead in the Liga and are closing in on their third successive title. Meireles, who has won six caps for Portugal, has scored four times in the league this season and featured in all of six of Porto's UEFA Champions League group stage games. The side, who are away to Sporting Clube de Portugal on Sunday, resume their UEFA Champions League campaign away to FC Schalke 04 in the first knockout round on 19 February.
