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Sporting coup Lisbon signs Joao Pinto, eyes American Kirovski
Posted: Sunday July 02, 2000 01:01 PM
LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- Joao Pinto, the Portuguese international fired by Benfica just before the Euro 2000 championship, has signed a four-year contract with Benfica's crosstown rival and defending Portuguese champion Sporting Lisbon. Meanwhile, Sporting also was expected to sign U.S. international Jovan Kirovski from Germany's Borussia Dortmund, and Irish internationals Phil Babb and Alan Mahon, the sports daily O Jogo said Sunday. Dozens of fans cheered Pinto at Sporting's Alvalade stadium on Sunday, wrapping the club's green scar around his neck as the 28-year-old striker arrived there to sign the contract. "I was greatly honored by [Sporting's] invitation. There were others, but I think I've made the best choice," Pinto told a news conference. Pinto added he was very touched by the way Sporting's administration had approached him. Although his salary was not disclosed, Pinto's decision arguably was not influenced by numbers. Reports say his salary at Sporting is lower than other bids from England's Aston Villa and Chelsea and Italy's Fiorentina, but Pinto was believed to want to stay in the Portuguese capital. Pinto also was reported to have turned down an offer of 500 million escudos (US$2.37 million) a year from northern Portuguese club FC Porto which was higher than Sporting's. Reports last month said Sporting would pay the player a signing fee of 1 billion escudos (US$4.75 million) and a monthly salary of 27 million escudos (US$128,433). The signing is a major coup for Sporting in its traditional rivalry with Benfica. Sporting won the league title last season for the first time in 18 years and will play in next season's European Champions League. The club also has spent havily to lure quality players to the Alvalade stadium, including Danish goalie Peter Schmeichel, though it last month sold Argentinian midfielder Duscher to Spain's Deportivo La Coruna for US$10 million. Pinto is part of Portugal's golden generation of soccer which dominated youth soccer a decade ago. He played in the teams that one the World Cup for under-21s in 1989 and 1991. He joined Benfica in 1992 after a bad spell at Spain's Atletico de Madrid which made him reluctant about playing abroad.
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