Fiery addition

Porto adds quick-tempered, quick-footed Fabiano to roster

Luis Fabiano, aka The Fabulous, has tallied 38 goals over the past two years for Sao Paulo in Brazil. Allsport UK/ALLSPORT

LISBON (Reuters) -- European champion Porto has signed Brazil striker Luis Fabiano from Sao Paulo, the Portuguese club said on its Web site on Tuesday.

Porto said in a statement to the Portuguese Stock Exchange it had agreed a five-year contract with the player who has scored six goals in 12 internationals.

The 23-year-old, whose full name is Luis Fabiano Clemente and who is nicknamed "The Fabulous," became the last arrival at Porto to plug the gaps left by the departures of several players who helped them win the Champions League.

He sprang to prominence in 2002 when he was joint top scorer in the Brazilian championship with 19 goals in 23 games. Last year, he scored 29 times in 34 matches.

Fabiano was top scorer in this year's Libertadores Cup, the South American equivalent of the Champions League, with eight goals to help Sao Paulo reach the semi-finals.

Despite being sent off once this year, Luis Fabiano finally appears to be controlling a temper which earned him four red cards in 2003.

He has been a regular in the Brazil team this year, playing alongside Ronaldo in World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Chile, and he was ever present as world champions Brazil won last month's Copa America.

He scored twice in the competition, although he was overshadowed by his strike partner Adriano who netted seven.

Luis Fabiano joined Diego, his Copa America team mate, who signed a €7 million ($8.4 million) five-year contract with Porto last month after joing from Santos.

Other reinforcements include Greek Euro 2004-winning defender Yourkas Seitaridis, Brazilian defender Pepe, midfielder Hugo Leal, winger Ricardo Quaresma and striker Helder Postiga.

The Portuguese champion has received €70 million ($85.61 million) from the sale of players including defenders Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira, and playmaker Deco.

On Tuesday it also loaned Lithuanian striker Edgaras Jankauskas to French side Nice.

Jankauskas, 29, who signed from Benfica two years ago, joins Nice on a one-year deal with the option of another season.

Porto, who lost the European Super Sup to Valencia last week, begin the defense of its league title on September 12.

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