Silva signs with Foxes to end long-running saga

LONDON: Portugal midfielder Adrien Silva says he tried to remain positive during a long saga which came to a happy end yesterday as he completed his move to Premier League side Leicester City.

The 28-year-old — capped 20 times and a member of the Portugal side that won Euro 2016 — has had to wait four months to complete the £22 million (RM120 million) transfer from Sporting Lisbon.

The France-born midfielder has been in a state of limbo since his original transfer was not accepted because the paperwork was 14 seconds past the deadline in August— an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) failed.

“When you have a period like this, it’s very up and down,” Silva told Leicester’s in-house television station.

“You have to keep a positive mentality and that’s what I’ve tried to do. I’ve kept my mind focused on my job and what I love to do.”

Silva, who will have to sit out the Foxes match with Huddersfield Town late yesterday because his registration was not completed in time, said he had been keeping fit depsite not having played all season.

“It’s been very frustrating, but now the difficult times are past me and I’m very happy to be close to my goal,” he said.

“I’ve been working hard every day to arrive at this moment and I’m in good shape.

“It’s been very important to keep training because it’s a long time not playing. There is nothing better than the game.”

Meanwhile, Swansea defender Kyle Naughton will be suspended for his team’s next three games after a review of a stamping incident in their 2-1 Premier League win over Watford on Saturday.

Television images showed Naughton appearing to tread on Stefano Okaka’s leg and he was charged with violent conduct by the English Football Association after the game at Vicarage Road.

Swansea picked up their first win in five games in new manager Carlos Carvalhal’s debut on Saturday. Agencies