Postiga Departs, As Mendes Arrives In Porto Swap Deal

Helder Postiga has left Spurs and signed for FC Porto with Pedro Mendes making the reverse journey.

Porto have paid 7.5m EUROS for their returning striker, while Spurs have paid 3m EUROS for Pedro

Most Spurs fans will be very sorry to see Helder depart so soon, although he struggled to score goals in his first season, his quality was obvious and first touch exceptional.

One season was no where near long enough to acclimatise to the physical aspect of the premiership yet alone for a young man to settle in a different country without any friends or family to support him. (The same thing happened to Jonathan Blondel).

Alas it was not to be, but we are sure he is going to develop into an excellent striker.

British fans have not seen that much of Pedro other than Porto’s heroics in winning the Champions league.

Hopefully N17 will not be too much of a step up for him!.

Full fact file taken from the official Spurs site.

http://www.spurs.co.uk

Career details of our new Portuguese midfielder...

Full name – Pedro Miguel da Silva Mendes

Born – Guimaraes; February 26, 1979.

Nationality – Portuguese

Position – Midfield

Playing Career
- Broke through at Second Division FC Felgueiras in 1998-99 (31 games, two goals).
- Was a regular in Portugal’s Youth Team.
- Signed for Vitoria Guimaraes in 1999.
- Debut versus Setubal, August 20, 1999.
- Established himself in 2001-02, featuring in 26 games.
- Season 2002-03 saw him score six goals in 32 matches as Guimaraes finished fifth in the Super Liga.
- First selected for the senior Portugal team in December 2002, versus Scotland.
- Joined FC Porto in July, 2003.
- Played 26 Portuguese League and 10 Champions League matches in 2003-04.

Honours:
- Portuguese Super Cup (2002-03)
- Portuguese League (2003-04)
- Champions League (2003-04)
- Portuguese Full International