Sporting CP Sign Florent Sinama-Pongolle
Atletico Madrid striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle has officially completed his transfer to Sporting CP.
The Frenchman has been on the verge of an exit from the Vicente Calderon for over a week, but only tonight has the paperwork been finalised.
Sporting have paid approximately €6.5 million for the former Recreativo Huelva striker, with a further million payable upon a certain number of appearances and goals.
If you are asking “Hey, didn’t Sinama-Pongolle briefly play for Liverpool?” The answer to that would be yes it’s one in the same. While I can understand Sporting pushing the panic after a horrible start to the season, I don’t like this move. Granted Sporting need someone who can step in now and score goals which Sinama-Pongolle should have the talent to do against the lesser teams in Portuguese football.
My problem with this transfer is €6.5 million is a lot of money for a Portuguese club to spend on a player who wasn’t able to make his mark at two top clubs previously with Liverpool and now Atletico Madrid deciding to move Sinama-Pongolle on. Porto and now Benfica get it when it comes to the transfer market. Take Benfica for example who recently signed Brazilian under 20 striker Alan Kardec for €2.5 million. Kardec isn’t going to step into the lineup right away and become a success but once he becomes accustom to European football his potential should come through, at which point of course big clubs come calling with a big cheque in hand. Angel Di Maria and just about every player Porto has sold in the last five years as examples. With Sinama-Pongolle, Sporting is buying high. While still young enough at 25 it’s unlikely another club is going to come calling with a large offer for the player even if he finds the success he failed to obtain with Liverpool and Atletico Madrid.