Rio de Janeiro Dec 30 (IANS) Sporting Lisbon has beaten off competition from a host of European rivals by signing highly-rated Brazilian midfielder Wendel according to widespread media reports.
The Portuguese outfit agreed to pay Rio de Janeiro s Fluminense nine million euros ($12 million) to secure the 20-year-old on a six-year deal Xinhua news agency quoted Brazil s Globo newspaper as reporting on Friday.
It added that Paris Saint-Germain Porto and CSKA Moscow had also shown interest in the playmaker.
Wendel played 58 matches and scored seven goals for Fluminense in 2017 after being promoted from the club s youth ranks.
He will reportedly earn 600 000 euros ($720 282) a year plus performance bonuses.
--IANS
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