Benfica raise stakes with Reyes loan
Friday, August 8, 2008
Article summary
Spanish international winger José Antonio Reyes has switched to SL Benfica on loan from Club Atlético de Madrid with an option to make his transfer permanent.
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'A great club'
UEFA Cup contenders Benfica have already bought a 25 per cent stake of the 24-year-old winger's playing registration, and Reyes was looking forward to his new challenge in the Portuguese capital. "I am here to win the championship as I want to win titles," he said. "Benfica is a great club who has been signing very good players recently. I want to demonstrate why the club took a punt on me."
Arsenal titles
Reyes has scored four goals in 21 appearances for Spain, but has not played for the national team since 2006. He started his career as a trainee at Sevilla FC before joining Arsenal FC in the 2003/04 season, winning the Premier League title in his first season at the club and the FA Cup in his second. He returned to Spain to win the title with Real Madrid CF in 2006/07 but then joined Atlético before the start of 2007/08, but failed to score in 26 league games. Benfica start their UEFA Cup campaign in the first round after finishing fourth in the Liga last season.
