Bayern unveil 'signing for the future' Breno

There are still 11 days until Christmas, but Bayern unwrapped an early present on Thursday evening with the unveiling of a new player for the first-team squad. Germany’s most successful club and Brazilian top flight outfit FC Sao Paulo have agreed a transfer deal for defensive all-rounder Breno. The talented 18-year-old, whose given name is Vinicius Rodrigues Borges, officially joins Bayern on 1 January 2008 and will report for mid-season training with the rest of the squad on 7 January, before travelling with his new team-mates to the Marbella training camp from 13 to 19 January.

“We’re delighted we've succeeded in signing Breno, a young and exceptionally talented player,“ commented Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, describing the new arrival at the Säbener Strasse as “a signing for the future.“ Subject to a medical, the centre-half will pen a four-and-a-half year deal binding him to the Munich club until 30 June 2012. The player moves from Sao Paulo for an undisclosed fee.

Stunning prospect

A Brazil U-20 international and captain of his country’s Olympic football team, Breno shot to prominence in the Brazilian top flight last season, his first since signing professional forms. He is credited with a major contribution to FC Sao Paulo sealing the championship title with a full five games to spare, conceding just 19 goals in 38 matches. Breno also scored two goals in 22 appearances, and was named “Newcomer of the Season 2007“ by Brazilian football journalists.

“He’s an absolutely stunning prospect,“ enthused former Bayern star Giovane Elber. “Even at such a young age, he’s already genuinely world class. He’s good in the air, robust, quick, two-footed and immensely composed for his age. He’s comfortable on the ball, he never resorts to hopeful long balls forward and always looks for a team-mate. He’s rarely forced into sliding tackles and always tries to beat the man he’s marking to the ball,“ Breno’s fellow-countryman Elber continued.

Pursued by clutch of European giants

Bayern fought off reported interest in the versatile defender, equally comfortable at right-back or centre-half, from other leading European clubs including Real Madrid, AC Milan, Juventus and Fiorentina. “I want to play for a great team,“ Breno was recently quoted as saying. His wish has now come true with his impending arrival at Bayern, ready to play his part in shaping a great team for the future.