The Bundesliga side have secured the signing of the Brazilian defender as a replacement to departing Emanuel Pogatetz.
Mirko Slomka’s side has acquired Standard Liege’s highly rated centre-back, Felipe, for an undisclosed fee. The player was signed as a replacement for Pogatetz, who left for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/VfL-Wolfsburg-c40881.
Felipe made 82 appearances for the Belgian side in his three years at the club and scored four goals in return. The player is yet to make an appearance for the national team and has the opportunity of playing in the UEFA Europa
League with Die Roten.
Hannover sporting director, Jorg Schmadtke, is delighted with the capture and is confident that the player will be able to make his mark in the Bundesliga.
The chief insisted that the Brazilian’s experience of playing in Europe was a major factor in the move and is looking forward to see the player give his best for the side. He added that the defender has all the qualities to become
one of the finest in the league and claimed that the centre-back has the time to prove his mettle.
“The fact that he has experience of playing in a European competition [the Europa League] was certainly something that influenced our decision. I am confident that he will become a key part of our team in the Bundesliga and in
the Europa League next season,” he was quoted as saying in an interview.
On the other hand, the sporting director admitted that the departure of Pogatetz is a loss for the club but remained confident that Felipe will be able to fill in the Austrian’s boots.
Schmadtke wished the former Middlesbrough man the best for his future and insisted that the club totally respect the player’s decision to leave.
“We are sad to be losing a player of Emanuel Pogatetz's quality and we must thank him for his performances for the club in the past two seasons, but we completely respect his decision to leave,” he concluded.
Hannover finished the Bundesliga season in seventh place with a total of 48 points from the 34 games played. The team qualified for the UEFA Europa League for the next campaign and have been active in the transfer market this summer.
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