Santos okays Napoli deal for Brazil goalkeeper Rafael

Rio de Janeiro, July 5 (IANS)

Brazil’s Santos FC goalkeeper Rafael Cabral

Santos have agreed in principle to sell goalkeeper Rafael to Italian Serie A outfit Napoli for five million euros, the Brazilian club said.

Santos vice president Odilio Rodrigues Thursday confirmed the 23-year-old’s move was likely to be confirmed within days, reports Xinhua.

“Last night we received a draft contract from Napoli and it meets our requirements,” Rodrigues said. “Now we just have to sign the paperwork, but we have agreed to the conditions.”

Rafael has won three international caps for Brazil and was a member of Mano Menezes’ Olympic team that took the silver medal in London last year.

The transfer makes him the third Santos player to be signed by a European side in the past two months. The club has also sold Neymar to Barcelona for 57 million euros and Felipe Anderson to Lazio for four million euros.