SWINDON Town defender Raphael Rossi Branco has swapped Wiltshire for Portugal after agreeing a two-year deal with Portuguese top-flight side Boavista, it was announced today.
The 26 year old Brazilian, who had been offered new Town terms with his contract coming to a close this summer, will instead ply his trade in the Primeira Liga from next season.
Raphael Rossi, defesa central ítalo-brasileiro de 26 anos, assina 2 temporadas pelo Boavista!
— Boavista FC (@boavistaoficial) June 16, 2017
Bem-vindo, Pantera! pic.twitter.com/2Q2gOn7kXk
The Porto-based Os Axadrezados (The Chequered ones) finished ninth in the division in the past season, with Branco joining a squad led by manager Miguel Leal.
The Sao Paulo-born player joined Town from non-league side Whitehawk in 2013 after impressing on a pre-season trip to Portugal, going on to make more than 120 appearances for the club, scoring six goals.
He had previously been at Cruzeiro, Vitória and Porto Alegre in his homeland
Branco scored three goals as Town reached the League One play-off final in 2014/15 and made a further 40 appearances the following season, going on to captain the team on a number of occasions.
He becomes the second member of the quintet of senior players offered new deals by Town, with their current terms coming to an end this summer.
New boss David Flitcroft confirmed that striker Jonathan Obika would be moving on earlier this week, with the player saying his farewells to Town via social media yesterday.
The futures of skipper Nathan Thompson, midfielder Yaser Kasim and striker Jermaine Hylton have yet to be decided.
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