BREAKING NEWS: Norwich land defender Ivo Pinto from Dinamo Zagreb
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | January 8, 2016
Premier League 4/1 relegation chances with Coral Norwich City have announced the signing of Portuguese right back Ivo Pinto from Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb for a reported £2.2m fee.
“I’m very excited to come here and play for a big club in the Premier League,” Pinto said. “I’m looking forward to starting work to help the team achieve their goals.”
“Ivo has had Champions League experience this season, playing against Arsenal and Bayern Munich where he did very well, Canaries boss Alex Neil added.
“He’s a Portuguese Under-21 international and at only 26 has his best years ahead of him. He is an athletic and good defender and will bring us options at the back.”
BREAKING | City sign Ivo Pinto from Dinamo Zagreb, subject to paperwork. Full story: https://t.co/kIOKP0DpU5 pic.twitter.com/GqrC9pvAnq
— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) January 8, 2016
The Canaries have snapped up a defender, who turned 26 on January 7th, that may be relatively unknown but with a wealth of experience in European competition with Zagreb and former side CFR Cluj.
Manchester United fans may also be aware of Pinto’s talents, as he helped the Romanian outfit beat them at Old Trafford in the Champions League in the 2012/13 campaign.
Although the full back is uncapped by his nation Portugal, he has had a call-up to the senior side in the past and has had caps in all of their youth teams.
Canaries well covered at the back
Pinto, who started out in Porto’s academy and played for the likes of Rio Ave too, will have to compete with a place in the Norwich XI, with names such as Steven Whittaker, Andre Wisdom and captain Russell Martin all able in that area.
Fans will be hoping the arrival of the Portuguese will be a boost to the club’s fortunes, as they bid to stay in the Premier League after promotion the season before.
The Canaries currently sit in 15th place and are six points above the drop zone after back-to-back wins over Aston Villa and Southampton, while they also beat Man Utd away recently.
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