Manchester United player Juan Mata has confirmed that the sidea s struggling midfielder Anderson will leave Old Trafford to join Internacional in a deadline day transfer.
The 26-year-old joined the Red Devils from Portuguese side Porto in 2007, but despite a resume boasting of four Premier League titles, one Champions League medal and two league cups amongst others, the Brazilian international has failed to establish himself in the cluba s starting line-up, and has a mere 70 league starts to his name.
And Mata suggests that the player is now on the verge of ending his seven-and-a-half year stint in England, as Anderson closes on a deal to return to his native land with Internacional, having formerly played for their arch-rivals Gremio in his initial footballing years.
a Also, I want to wish good luck to my friend Anderson, who is back to football in his native Brazil. All the best, my frienda , the Spanish international added as a PS in his official blog.
Though a deal has not yet been put to paper, it is expected that the player is leaving on a free transfer as his contract at Manchester United was due to expire in summer this year, and a new deal was not offered.
It was reported that Anderson underwent a fitness test at Porto-Alegre this weekend, though an official confirmation on the same is yet not available after the player had his first physical session with club’s fitness co-ordinator Elio Carravetta.
Anderson came to United amidst much hype, and managed to live up to the reputation in his first year at Old Trafford, where he converted a spot-kick during the sidea s Champions League final penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea in 2008.
But things went south from there on for the young player, who fell out of favour under former manager David Moyes, resulting in a six-month loan deal to Italian side Fiorentina in January last year.
However his time in the Serie A proved to be as unsuccessful, but Internacional president Vitorio Piffero insists that Anderson will be able to re-establish his career back in Brazil, and hopes that the signing would prove fruitful.
a We know the player. I have spoken to him and am sure we will see the Anderson we all remembera , he was quoted as saying by the Mirror.
a This is not a risky signing. He will bring us great happiness.a