© EuroFootball.com
In the "Premier League" in England, London club situated near the "abyss" made its first purchase in January at the opening of the player transfer market. The new "hammer" strategist Alan Curbishley officially purchased the club captain Luis Boa Morte for an undisclosed but estimated amount of around 5 million pounds sterling.
The 29-year-old footballer had been linked with moves to "Newcastle" and Portugal's "Benfica" clubs, but ultimately "West Ham" expressed a greater desire to see the player in their club, making this A.Curbishley's first purchase for the "hammers" team.
The fullback, who successfully passed a medical examination on Thursday and signed a contract with his new club for three and a half years, will undoubtedly strengthen the "West Ham" team, as coach A.Curbishley wants to revitalize the team and save it from relegation to a lower league.
"Fulham" strategist Chris Coleman, who also yesterday rented out "Roma" forward Vincenzo Montella for six months, said he did not want to lose one of his leaders L. Boa Morte.
"I am, of course, extremely disappointed that he did not want to continue his career at the 'Fulham' club," C. Coleman told the club's official website. - "But if the player is not happy playing in our club and expresses a desire to leave, I have no choice but to let him move elsewhere, just as with Luis."
"He was a great employee of our team and we wish him all the best," added the coach. - "I spoke with the owner and the sports director of the club, and we believe that we need to invest in players who are preparing to commit to playing for 'Fulham.' We will continue to strengthen our team through this and, if necessary, the next player market. We must ensure that we have a strong enough team for the future that can push our club forward, as that is our goal."
L. Boa Morte began his professional football career at Sporting Lisbon and on June 19, 1997, he moved to the London club "Arsenal" for a sum of 1.5 million pounds sterling.
However, after playing just 40 matches for the "Gunners" club in two years, he was sold to "Southampton" for 500,000 pounds sterling. There, his career also did not go well, playing just 14 games and scoring one goal in 2000, he was loaned to Fulham, to which he permanently transferred for 1.7 million pounds.
Wearing the Fulham team's jersey, the player, who can play in both full-back and forward positions, scored 26 goals in 166 matches. L. Boa Morte continues to represent the national team and has scored twice against opponents' goalkeepers in 25 matches.
