Advertisement

Rennes recruit Portuguese defender

Portuguese defender Pedro Mendes, pictured on July 23, 2010, has joined French top-flight outfit Rennes on a four-year deal

Portuguese defender Pedro Mendes, who spent time at Real Madrid earlier in his career, has joined French top-flight outfit Rennes on a four-year deal, the Breton club announced on Monday. The Swiss-born 24-year-old arrives after spending last season with Italian club Parma, who went bankrupt after being relegated from Serie A. Mendes played under his countryman Jose Mourinho at Madrid and featured in a Champions League game against Ajax in 2011, but soon disappeared off the radar at the Santiago Bernabeu. He is the latest summer signing made by the Ligue 1 side, who have also welcomed Ivory Coast striker Giovanni Sio from Basel, Lens defender Ludovic Baal and former Aston Villa midfielder Yacouba Sylla this close season.