Hulk extends Porto deal until 2016

Posted Saturday, May 14, 2011 by YAHOO Sport

LISBON (AFP) - Porto have paid 13.5 million euros ($19m) to acquire 40 percent of the sporting rights to their Brazilian forward Hulk and extended his contract until 2016, the club announced on Saturday.

"FC Porto inform that they have extended the player's contract until June 30, 2016, maintaining his departure clause at 100m euros," said the club in a statement to the Portuguese stock exchange.

Hulk, whose full name is Givanildo Vieira de Souza, is the top scorer in the Portuguese championship this season with 23 goals.

The payment to the Uruguyan club Atletico Rentistas means that Porto now own 85 percent of Hulk's sporting rights.

Hulk, 24, joined Porto in 2008 after the side from northern Portugal paid 5.5m euros for 45 percent of his rights.

His total 19m-euro transfer fee means Hulk "becomes the most expensive player in the history of Portuguese football," according to Saturday's edition of the A Bola sport daily.

Porto have already secured victory in the Portuguese title race and lead the table by 19 points from their Lisbon rivals Benfica.

They meet Maritimo on Saturday afternoon in their final match of a season in which they are yet to taste defeat in the league.

Andre Villas Boas's side have also reached the final of the Portuguese Cup and the Europa League.