Atletico Mineiro are poised to add another player to their ranks in the form of Spartak Moscow midfileder Rafael Carioca, with the Brazilian expected to join on a year’s loan imminently.
According to reports in the Brazilian press, 25 year-old Rafael will join the Belo Horizonte team after their pursuit of Shakhtar Donetsk’s Fernando failed to reap any reward.
Although the deal has not been officially ratified, agent Jorge Ribeiro has confirmed that only the player’s signature is required for Rafael to return to domestic football in his homeland.
He started out at Gremio, but after only a season of impressive performances, Russian outfit Spartak decided to stump up €4 million for the defensive midfielder, and Rafael has now played over 100 league games for the Moscow team.
His move to Mineiro will reinforce a side that has stuttered of late, winning just once in the league since the end of May.
