On the final day of the foreign transfer window, Santos sealed the capture of Argentine midfielder Patricio Rodríguez from Independiente.
Rodríguez, 22, was a Copa Sudamericana winner with Independiente in 2010 and now joins up with Santos as they look to replace the departed attacking duo of Borges and Alan Kardec.
“I could not be happier and, luckily, everything was done quickly,” Rodríguez told ESPN. “I will join the biggest club in America. They have had players like Pele, Robinho and now Neymar, who will be a dream to play with.”
Rodríguez added that the presence of Neymar influenced his decision to join the Peixe, saying: “He is one of the world’s best and hopefully I will win things with him.”
