Santos signs Maldonado

Sao Paulo:

Santos has signed Chilean midfielder Claudio Maldonado from Cruzeiro. "He wanted to work with (coach Vanderlei) Luxemburgo again," Maldonado's agent Hugo Rubio told the sports daily Lance . "He knows Santos is putting together a team to win titles again". Luxemburgo coached the Chilean star in 2003, when Cruzeiro won the Brazilian Cup title and its first national championship. Maldonado, a regular in Chile's national squad, had a contract with Cruzeiro until December 31. Details of his transfer to Santos were not immediately available. Santos, which hired Luxemburgo earlier this month after he was fired by Spain's Real Madrid, is trying to recuperate from a disappointing 2005 season. Santos won the national league in 2002 and 2004, but was 10th in this year's tournament. It also has signed goalkeeper Fabio Costa, a former Santos player who helped Corinthians win its fourth national title earlier this year. (AP)

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