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In the German Bundesliga competition, the Bremen club, currently occupying the 2nd place, continues to extend contracts in an attempt to preserve the core of the team. This time, following the footsteps of striker Miroslav Klose and midfielder Torsten Frings, defender Naldo signed a new contract until 2012.
On Thursday, just a day after T. Frings decided to sign a new contract, which required him to stay with the team until the summer of 2011, and just a week after the club's attacking leader M. Klose also agreed to stay, the club's general director Klaus Allofs announced that the Brazilian defender Naldo has also extended his contract.
The 24-year-old player's contract with Werder was set to expire in the summer of 2009, but the Brazilian signed a new three-year contract and agreed to stay with the Bremen team until June 30, 2012.
"It's a positive sign when players choose the Werder Bremen team and see their future in it. Naldo has quickly become one of the best players in the Bundesliga. It was more than we expected, and that's why we offered him to extend the contract with Werder," commented K. Allofs.
Naldo stated that it didn't take much time to decide to extend his contract: "I am very happy in the Bremen team, and my family feels very comfortable here. I have developed very well here and can continue to do so. I'm in a fantastic team. The coaching staff, the club management, and everyone who works in the Werder team are excellent. They all welcomed me warmly. I feel great here and that's why I decided to stay in Bremen."
The head coach Thomas Schaaf was pleased that Naldo would continue to play for Werder: "I am pleased that he enjoys his time in Bremen and wants to continue representing Werder. When he first arrived at the team, no one knew what to expect from him. But this season he turned everything upside down and became one of the best players in the team. In addition, he was the captain of the Brazilian national team, which says it all."
Naldo joined Werder in the summer of 2005 and immediately secured a place in the starting lineup. In his first season, he played 32 matches. In this season's 30 matches, he showed not only his ability to defend well but also scored 6 goals, making him one of the most productive defenders in the Bundesliga.
