Beşiktaş signs Dentinho on a loan deal

ISTANBUL

REUTERS photo

Beşiktaş announced the signing of Brazilian forward Dentinho from Shakhtar Donetsk in a loan deal on Thursday.

The Spor Toto Super League club issued a statement saying it would pay one million euros to the Ukranian champions to loan the player, whose full name is Bruno Ferreira Bonfim, until Jan. 1, 2014. Beşiktaş also has the option to extend the deal.

The Black Eagles, who are two points behind leader Galatasaray in the second spot in the Spor Toto Super League, have been in the market for a forward.

Portuguese international striker Hugo Almeida is the only center forward for Beşiktaş following the long-term injury of Turkish international Mustafa Pektemek.

The 24-year-old Dentinho will be available for selection for the important derby game against Galatasaray on Jan. 27, while Almeida is currently suffering from a slight injury.

Dentinho was a promising starlet when he started his professional career with Corinthians. He had four successful seasons with the Sao Paulo club and was instrumental in the team’s double trophy winning season in 2009.

However, he failed to translate his talents into successful performances in Ukraine, although he was still a member of the treble-trophy winning team of last season.

This season he has not featured in any games with Shakhtar Donetsk, which incidentally is coached by former Beşiktaş coach Mircea Lucescu.