FABIO Rochemback has admitted the prospect of long-term security was what persuaded him to swap Portugal for the Premiership and join Middlesbrough.

Rochemback's three-year loan deal at Sporting Lisbon came to a premature end on Wednesday night when Boro reached an agreement with Sporting and his parent club Barcelona.

The Teessiders, desperate to add a midfielder to their squad before the transfer deadline, have paid Sporting the £1m fee that had been agreed with Barca if his temporary switch did not go full term.

Rochemback revealed the lure of English football became too strong when Boro offered him a lucrative five-year deal thought to be worth around the same £1.4m salary he was on at the Nou Camp.

"Footballers have to play, and if Barcelona, Middlesbrough and Sporting reached an agreement then I had to go really," said Rochemback. "In the past I always said that I wanted to stay at Sporting. I like the club and I always said that I wanted to stay here.

"If Sporting agreed the deal, they know what they are doing. I have to accept it. It's a very good deal for me, and a five year contract."

There had been fears Rochemback was going to follow Sporting team-mate Rudolph Douala's lead and reject manager Steve McClaren's overtures.

Boro had agreed a £5.5m fee with the Portuguese club for Douala but the Cameroon winger decided to remain at the Estadio Jose Alvalade where he will be playing European football - he would have been cup-tied had he gone to the Riverside.

But Rochemback was not afraid of such an outcome, although he has stated his sadness for leaving Jose Peseiro's side - who he helped to the UEFA Cup final last season, beating Boro and Newcastle on the way.

"I was very happy at Sporting and the club will always have a place in my heart. They were two great years for me personally and I'm just sad that I didn't manage to win the trophies that I wanted," said Rochemback, who has seven caps for Brazil and he began his career with Brazilians Internacional before joining Barca in 2001.

"The fans, for the way in which they treated me, deserved more happiness, but football is like that.

"The proposal from Middlesbrough was very good and that's what happens in football. I wish Sporting all the best and hope they can win the title this season."

Sources in Portugal claim that Rochemback was renowned for enjoying the night-life a little too much but was regarded as a good player during his time there, although he needed to look after himself a little better.

The 23-year-old was signed on the same day as defender Abel Xavier, who is now hoping his move to Boro will strengthen his case to play in next summer's World Cup.

Xavier has had a number of offers since leaving AS Roma but chose Boro because of his good memories while playing for Liverpool and Everton.

The 32-year-old said: "I've lost my place in the squad but I was always involved in previous World Cups and European Championships. I have five months left to fight for my place again.

"I've spoken to my new coach (McClaren) and if I have the continuity here at Middlesbrough I think I can fight for my place back."

It has emerged Boro's bid to offload Szilard Nemeth on deadline day hit the buffers when the Slovakian failed to agree terms with Slavia Prague.

It had been hoped Nemeth would have joined Joseph Job and Michael Reiziger out the door after they brokered deals to Saudia Arabia and Holland respectively

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