PSV midfielder Labyad confirms deal with Sporting Portugal

The Hague, April 18 (Xinhua-ANI): PSV midfielder Zakaria Labyad has reached an agreement with Sporting Portugal, the 19-year-old player confirmed on Wednesday in Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf.

Earlier this month the Portuguese club had already announced that the Moroccan international agreed a five-year deal. "I think Sporting is the right step for me," he said in De Telegraaf. "They work with many talents and I had a good feeling immediately."

Labyad's contract at PSV ran out at the end of this season, but PSV lifted the unilateral option to extend the contract until 2014. However, the player disputes the validity of that option and thinks Sporting will take him over on a free transfer.

A recent conversation between the father of Labyad, who is also his agent, and PSV last weekend yielded no results. "PSV did not offer me a new proposal to keep me," said Labyad. The players claims PSV wanted to sell him to Benfica, instead of letting him go on a free transfer to Sporting.

"I was disappointed. PSV wanted to sell me in January already," added Labyad. "But I wanted to stay in Eindhoven. Now PSV wanted to sell me to Benfica, I finally opted for Sporting."

Labyad played 41 league matches so far for PSV in which he scored seven goals. He will participate at the Olympic Games in London with Morocco. (Xinhua-ANI)