Standard sign former Auxerre trainee
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
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Belgian champions R. Standard de Liège have signed Jonathan Mendes, a 19-year-old French midfielder of Portuguese extraction, after the former AJ Auxerre youth player impressed while on trial.
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Belgian champions R. Standard de Liège have signed midfielder Jonathan Mendes with the former AJ Auxerre player doing enough while on trial to earn a two-year contract, with the option of a further 12 months.
'A lot of strengths'
The 19-year-old left-footed Frenchman of Portuguese extraction started his career as a trainee at Olympique Lyonnais and played for Auxerre's reserve team last season. After being released by the Ligue 1 club, he impressed in a spell at Standard, with sporting director Dominique D'Onofrio saying: "He has a lot of strengths. He is fast, very accurate with his passing and dangerous from free-kicks." Standard kick off their 2009/10 UEFA Champions League group stage campaign in the group stage.