© EuroFootball.com
The vice-champion of Ukraine, Donetsk, seems to not be planning to stop buying Brazilians - the club has agreed on the acquisition of Brazilian youth (under 20 years old) national team player Fernandinho for, as estimated, around 8 million euros.
19-year-old defender Fernandinho is expected to arrive in Donetsk on February 22nd and, after passing the medical examination, sign a five-year contract. However, he will only join the Ukrainian team in the summer, as for now he will remain in Brazil and continue to play for "Atletico Paranaense" in the Copa Libertadores tournament, which is the equivalent of the Champions League in South America.
Fernandinho will become the fourth Brazilian to move to "Shakhtar" since the beginning of 2005, following his compatriots Jadson Rodriguez, Ivan Saraiva, and Elano Blumer. Additionally, the team already had players like Matuzalem, Brandao, and Joao Marques.
"We closely monitor the Brazilian league. Our club president, Rinat Akhmetov, follows the example of clubs like Milan or Barcelona, and that's why we have acquired the best players from the last Brazilian league season who have a great future in football," said "Shakhtar" head coach Mircea Lucescu.
Meanwhile, former "Shakhtar" defender Isaac Okoronkwo will spend the upcoming season in Russia. The 26-year-old Nigerian, whose contract with "Wolves" has expired, signed a contract with a Vladikavkaz club, where there are already Lithuanians.
The "Alania" team, which had an unsuccessful season last year, will be strengthened by two more defenders - Okoronkwo's teammate in the Nigerian national team, Justice Christopher, and Georgian Dato Kvirkvelia, who recently played against Barasa and Zutautas in a friendly match between the national teams of Georgia and Lithuania.
