Bologna defender Carvalho joins Flamengo on loan

Rio de Janeiro –  Brazilian football giants Flamengo have signed defender Roger de Carvalho, on a one-year loan deal from Italian Serie A club, Bologna.

The 26-year-old, who played under Flamengo coach Jorginho at Figueirense in 2011, will join the Rio de Janeiro outfit when the Brazil transfer window reopens on June 15, the club confirmed Thursday.

His signing came on the same day when Flamengo confirmed it had struck a one-year loan agreement with Gremio for Bolivia international striker Marcelo Moreno.

“I chose Flamengo because it is a team that has everything that I want,” the former Wigan Athletic forward said. “They have a great supporter base and I’m already thinking about playing at a packed Maracana in front of 80,000 people.”

Flamengo begin their Brazilian league campaign on May 25 against Santos at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, which has been redeveloped for the 2014 World Cup.