Panathinaikos pick up Manucho
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Article summary
UEFA Cup contenders Panathinaikos FC have signed 24-year-old Angolan forward Manucho on loan from Manchester United FC until the end of the season.
Article body
UEFA Cup contenders Panathinaikos FC have strengthened their squad with the loan signing of Angolan forward Manucho.
'Looking forward'
The 24-year-old will arrive on a six-month deal from Manchester United FC once Angola's involvement in the African Cup of Nations is at an end. "After the tournament I will return to Luanda and then head to Athens," said Manucho. "I am looking forward to playing in Greece before hopefully being a success at Old Trafford."
'Comfortable'
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson added: "We've sent Manucho out to Panathinaikos for the remainder of the season to get some football. The set-up at Panathinaikos is Portuguese, the coach there is Portuguese [José Peseiro] and Manucho speaks the language so he will feel comfortable there."
Three goals
Manucho has scored three goals so far in African Cup of Nations to help Angola advance to the quarter-finals, where they will meet Egypt on Monday. He is the fourth player to join the Athens club after the arrivals of Helder Postiga, Nikolaos Spyropoulos and Antonios Petropoulos. Panathinaikos tackle Rangers FC in the UEFA Cup Round of 32, the first leg taking place in Glasgow on 13 February.
