Reports: Possebon to join Braga for the season (now confirmed)
Posted by nickogs20 on July 2, 2009
According to all the main media outlets in Portugal (via the Lusa news agency), the 20 year-old playmaker has been in the northern city of Braga today to undergo a medical ahead of completing his loan move and being presented at the AXA Stadium either later this evening or at some point tomorrow. With an excess of central midfielders on the payroll at Old Trafford, a move to a side who finished fifth last season and who will compete in the Europa League in 2009/10 looks to be an ideal move for Possebon, who is clearly at a stage now where reserve football offers no challenge.
The Brazilian-born youngster, who has chosen to represent Italy and was selected for the Azzurini at Under-20 level in May, made eight appearances for the United first team last term, predominantly from the bench. His three starts all came in the Carling Cup, perhaps the most notable coming against Middlesbrough, where he was on the receiving end of a horror tackle from Emanuel Pogatetz which initially looked set to sideline him for a long period. As it turned out Rodrigo returned within a month, although the effects of the injury hampered his form for quite a while after that.
Towards the end of the campaign, however, he started to recapture the early-season form that had forced him into the first-team picture, and this move to Braga (where he will join former team-mate Evandro Brandão, who joined the Arsenalistas permanently last month) offers him a great opportunity to pick up further experience at senior level, and make a strong case for a place in the United first-team squad next year as Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs head towards retirement.
Edit: United have now confirmed the deal.
NicoQB said
Good for him. Had high hopes for him until the Pogatetz incident. After which he didn’t seem the same player, or rather, was barred by Darron Gibson.
Let’s hope he makes a breakthrough there.
Colour Me Obvious said
I really hope he does well, I’ve taken a shinning to him. Such a great chant too! Though I can’t imagine Braga fans picking it up.
Dr.Twinny said
Should be a good move for him,hopefully he can rediscover his form and show some class while playing in the Super Liga and in Europe.
Everestmindz said
Good for Possebon, I really believe he will be a success.
Hakan said
Before his injury I thought Possebon was the most promising of all our teenagers, but I agree with NicoQB that he hasn’t looked the same player since then. A spell at Braga seems the perfect move for him at the moment. Hopefully he will come back and challenge for a first-team spot a year from now.