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Carlo Ramos · 27-07-2004, 06:24 PM

I may not be good enough for English football, says Viana

LISBON (AFP) - Newcastle United midfielder Hugo Viana, who earlier this week returned to his old club Sporting Lisbon on loan for a year, has said he feels he may not have what it takes to shine in the English Premiership.

Newcastle signed Viana for 8.5 million pounds (12.9 million euros, 15.6 million dollars) from Sporting in July 2002 after the player had just represented his country at both the European Under-21 Championships and the World Cup finals.

But left-footed Viana struggled to find his form after switching to St James' Park and he failed to earn a regular spot in coach Bobby Robson's side.

He started only 28 games for Newcastle United, just 16 of them in the league, and was booed by fans during a 1-1 home draw in May with relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers as he was replaced by Frenchman Laurent Robert.

"I have tried many times to figure out the reasons for why things turned out they way they did," he said in an interview with Portuguese daily Correio da Manha.

"Maybe it is because I went abroad too early or maybe I was not good enough to play in the English Premier League. It could be that," he added.

"Maybe in another type of league things would have been different. I think of many things but I really don't know the reasons."

Before returning to Sporting the 21-year-old Portuguese international signed a one-year extension to his Newcastle United contract which could keep him at St James' Park until the end of the 2007-08 season.

Under the terms of the loan agreement Sporting have an option to purchase Viana in the summer of 2005.

He is the second young Portuguese footballer to return home this summer from England after striker Helder Postiga.

Earlier this month Tottenham Hotspur sold Postiga back to European champions FC Porto for four million pounds after the player had a disappointing season with the English premier club.

Postiga joined Tottenham from Porto for 6.25 million pounds last year and scored just one goal in 19 Premiership games.

27-07-2004, 06:24 PM	#47 (permalink)
Carlo Ramos TS Member Carlo Ramos is Offline Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Falmouth, Reino Unido Posts: 1,131 vCash: 500 Rep: Rep Points: 9	I may not be good enough for English football, says Viana I may not be good enough for English football, says Viana LISBON (AFP) - Newcastle United midfielder Hugo Viana, who earlier this week returned to his old club Sporting Lisbon on loan for a year, has said he feels he may not have what it takes to shine in the English Premiership. Newcastle signed Viana for 8.5 million pounds (12.9 million euros, 15.6 million dollars) from Sporting in July 2002 after the player had just represented his country at both the European Under-21 Championships and the World Cup finals. But left-footed Viana struggled to find his form after switching to St James' Park and he failed to earn a regular spot in coach Bobby Robson's side. He started only 28 games for Newcastle United, just 16 of them in the league, and was booed by fans during a 1-1 home draw in May with relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers as he was replaced by Frenchman Laurent Robert. "I have tried many times to figure out the reasons for why things turned out they way they did," he said in an interview with Portuguese daily Correio da Manha. "Maybe it is because I went abroad too early or maybe I was not good enough to play in the English Premier League. It could be that," he added. "Maybe in another type of league things would have been different. I think of many things but I really don't know the reasons." Before returning to Sporting the 21-year-old Portuguese international signed a one-year extension to his Newcastle United contract which could keep him at St James' Park until the end of the 2007-08 season. Under the terms of the loan agreement Sporting have an option to purchase Viana in the summer of 2005. He is the second young Portuguese footballer to return home this summer from England after striker Helder Postiga. Earlier this month Tottenham Hotspur sold Postiga back to European champions FC Porto for four million pounds after the player had a disappointing season with the English premier club. Postiga joined Tottenham from Porto for 6.25 million pounds last year and scored just one goal in 19 Premiership games. __________________ FORÇA MARÍTIMO - EQUIPA MAIOR DAS ILHAS R.I.P Fehér Miklós (1979-2004) ..... www.fehermiklos.hu