Hugo Viana - Back At Sportling Lisbon (On Loan)
By Matthew Jones
July 21 2004
21-year-old midfielder Hugo Viana is "very happy to be back at Sporting (Lisbon)" after Newcastle announced that they have loaned the Portuguese youngster to the club for one season.
Viana has failed to make a big impact on procedings at St James' Park since his move from Sporting Lisbon back in 2001 and it was expected that he would move away from the club in the near future.
Reports in Portugal suggested a move to FC Porto or Benfica (on loan) would be the most likely option for the former European Young Player of the Year but it has been revealed that he is going back to Sporting - due to a clause in Viana's transfer from his former club, which stated that they would be able to loan him before any other club. In other words, Sporting Lisbon would have top priority if he was ever to be loaned out.
Hugo is unsure about his future still, and doesn't know as of yet wether or not he will be returning back to Newcastle (or England for that matter) once his spell with Sporting is over.
He will undergo a medical at the Alvelade Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
It is also beleived that Newcastle have agreed to pay half his wages during the year-long-loan and have told Sporting that it would cost them £7m if they want to re-sign their former player.
It is also beleived that Newcastle have agreed to pay half his wages during the year-long-loan and have told Sporting that it would cost them £7m if they want to re-sign their former player.
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