Alves seals Qatar switch

04 September 2009 08:36
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Middlesbrough's record signing Afonso Alves has left the club after completing his move to Qatar.[LNB] Alves was signed in January 2008 when Boro paid Dutch outfit Heerenveen more than £12million for his services.[LNB]The Brazil international initially settled in well on Teesside, opening his account with a brace against Manchester United and finished the season with a hat-trick against Manchester City.[LNB]But he flopped last term with just four goals as Boro were relegated.[LNB]Over the summer Alves made it quite clear he wanted to leave the club and he went AWOL during pre-season as he failed to turn up for training.[LNB]He later returned but he has never been in contention to play in the Championship for Boro.[LNB]The 28-year-old has now signed a three-year deal with Al Sadd, who have paid around £6million for the player - although Boro say the deal is yet to be finalised, as they are awaiting the paperwork from Qatar.[LNB]Alves is the fourth big-name departure from The Riverside this season, following the sales of Stewart Downing, Tuncay Sanli and Robert Huth.[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports