Brazil's Fluminense close to sign striker Bryan Cabezas

Ecuadorian striker Bryan Cabezas landed here to undergo a medical exam and to sign a new contract with Fluminense FC.

"I am anxious. Fluminense is a great football club and this is a great opportunity," the striker told the daily Lance on his arrival in Rio.

"This is a well-known team in Brazil and throughout the world and I accepted the challenge thinking about the Ecuadorian national team as well," he added.

The 21-year-old Cabezas, who is under contract to Italy's Atalanta, will be on loan for Fluminense for a year, where he will play with his fellow countryman Junior Sornoza, who recommended the move to gain experience in the Rio team, reports Efe.

"He told me that Fluminense is a great club, that Rio de Janeiro is a nice city, and that he was happy to see me here," Cabezas said.

The two Ecuadorians were teammates in Independiente del Valle, a team that reached the final of the 2016 Conmebol Libertadores cup, which was won by Colombia's Atletico Nacional.

Regarding his physical condition, Cabezas said that he would "soon be ready to play," although he would still have to "wait a little."

"I still need to talk to the coach (Marcelo Oliveira), since he will decide when I can be put on the starting lineup. I hope I am ready to take advantage of the opportunity," Cabezas told Lance.

The Fluminense "is an excellent club and I am very proud to have this opportunity," Cabezas said.

--IANS

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