Porto and Brazil striker Hulk has joined Zenit St. Petersburg in a last minute transfer deal reportedly worth £39.5 million or €50 million. Hulk was instrumental in leading Porto to three Portuguese championship titles in 2009, 2011, and 2012 in addition to the 2011 Europa League title. The burly Brazilian scored an incredible 54 goals in 103 league matches for Porto since joining the club in 2008. At Porto, Hulk played as a right winger where he would cut diagonally inward and unleash long range strikes on goal from his favored left foot. Zenit were able to sign Hulk so late in the season because the Russian transfer window remains open for another week.
Zenit, who also signed Benefica midfielder Axel Witsel, said Hulk would wear the number 29 shirt. Speaking of the signings of Hulk and Witsel, Zenit spokesman Dmitry Tsimmerman remarked:
"We were trying to sign them before the Sept. 3 deadline for the Champions League so they can play for us in that competition as well as the Russian league.”
Zenit contends with AC Milan, Anderlecht and Malaga in Group C of the Champions League. Hulk has recently started playing for Brazil and can claim 13 caps and 3 international goals. He is known for his pace, dribbling ability, physical strength and an exemplary attitude toward training that has seen him incur few injuries over the last three years. Hulk is currently on international duty for Brazil in Sao Paulo for upcoming friendlies against South Africa and China. Hulk was one of the three overage Brazilians at the 2012 London Olympics and scored in injury time against Mexico in the final.
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