Sporting take Batista from Fulham

Sporting Clube de Portugal have signed Portugal Under-21 international goalkeeper Ricardo Batista from Fulham FC for an undisclosed fee.

'Big surprise'
"This is the happiest day of my career," said Ricardo Batista, who joins on a three-year contract. "I have been a Sporting fan since I was a boy so I did not think twice about signing. I was not expecting it. It was a big surprise." Ricardo joined Fulham in 2004/05 after coming up through the ranks at Vitória FC. He had loan spells at Milton Keynes Dons FC in 2005/06 and Wycombe Wanderers FC in 2006/07, but did not feature for Fulham after returning to Craven Cottage last season. He now hopes to push Rui Patrício for the No1 jersey at the Estádio José Alvalade. "It's natural I should think about being a starter," he said. "The goal is to work hard and give coach Paulo Bento a quality extra option." Sporting will contest the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.