Pizzi
Braga to Atletico Madrid (loan)
One of the most unexpected moves of the summer regarding Portuguese football concluded recently. That would be Pizzi moving from Braga to Atletico Madrid. After snapping up Silvio and Julio Alves in the off season, Atletico, who are loaded with cash following the departures of Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero, have secured the loan of Pizzi. Pizzi, who currently is owned by SC Braga, was loaned to Pacos Ferreira last term, notching up over 40 appearances. The performances were enough to convince Braga to keep him in the first team for the 2011-2012 season. He participated in pre-season for Braga, putting in some impressive performances. Many fans expected for Pizzi to be one of the stars of the Liga Zon Sagres this season, but it appears that will be put on hold. The agreement is for the loan of the winger, with an option to buy at the end of the loan contract. The option is believed to be around 15 million euros, which is quite a chunk of money for a largely unproven player. Pizzi’s skills were evident last season, and the player seems to be growing in confidence and ability daily. It will be interesting to see whether this move is a success.
