China deal too good to refuse: Vagner

Image
IANS Rio de Janeiro
Last Updated : Jul 25 2013 | 2:25 PM IST

Departing CSKA Moscow striker Vagner Love has described his 12 million-euro move to China's Shandong Luneng Taishan as a "once in a lifetime" opportunity.

The 29-year-old former Brazil international confirmed the move Wednesday, just six months after he signed a four-year deal with the Russian outfit, reports Xinhua.

Personal details of the contract were not revealed but in an interview with CSKA's official website, Vagner admitted the offer from the Chinese Super League club was too good to refuse.

"To leave the team was a very difficult decision to make. Obviously I wanted to stay with my teammates and compete in the Champions League and also compete for another league title in Russia," Vagner said.

"The club did everything to try to convince me to stay. But we have to remember that my career is coming to an end. I have to think about my family, the future. The offer from Shandong Luneng is one that might only come once in your life. That's why I decided to accept it. It will also be profitable for CSKA. My heart and soul is with them (the Russian side)."

Vagner scored 124 goals in 255 matches for CSKA from 2004 to 2013, winning three league titles, six Russian Cups and the 2005 UEFA Cup.

His return to the club in January followed a year-long loan deal with Brazilian giants Flamengo.

"We would like to thank Vagner for his contribution to our successful performance last season," CSKA said in a statement.

Vagner has won 21 international caps for Brazil and was part of the national team that won the 2007 Copa America.

*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Jul 25 2013 | 2:20 PM IST

Next Story