Loan star Grimi takes root at Sporting
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Article summary
Argentinian left-back Leandro Grimi has joined Sporting Clube de Portugal from AC Milan for €2.5m following a successful loan spell with the Lisbon side last season.
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Sell-on clause
The 23-year-old has signed a five-year contract with Sporting, who finished second in Portugal last season to qualify for the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League group stage. The deal will see Milan take 35 per cent of any future transfer fee for the player, though Sporting will buy back five per cent of that share for €200,000 every time they qualify for Europe's top club competition.
Sporting success
Grimi spent the second half of last season on loan at the Estádio José Alvalade, playing nine Liga games and helping Sporting to the runners-up spot. He also started in Sporting's 2-0 Portuguese Cup final win against league champions FC Porto. The one-time CA Huracán player briefly represented Racing Club de Avellaneda before joining Milan in 2007. He only featured in three league games for the Rossoneri, prompting loan moves to first AC Siena and later Sporting.