Football United

Portuguese champions SL Benfica have signed Russian international Andrei Kariaka while extending the contract of defensive midfielder Petit.

Monday arrival
Club president Luís Filipe Vieira today confirmed the acquisition of Kariaka, saying the 27-year-old midfielder would travel to Portugal on Monday after playing his final two games for Russian Premier-Liga side FC Krylya Sovetov Samara.

Russian caps
"We have an agreement with the player and he will travel to Lisbon next Monday to become a Benfica player," said Vieira. Kariaka has won 25 Russia caps following his debut in August 2001, and played all three of his country's matches at UEFA EURO 2004™.

Ukrainian days
Kariaka started out with FC Metalurh Zaporizhya in Ukraine between 1995 and 1998 before moving to FC CSKA Kyiv - now FC Arsenal Kyiv - where he played from 1998-00. The left-sided player, a free-kick specialist, then joined Krylya Sovetov in Russia.

Petit stays put
As well as announcing Kariaka's capture, Vieira also confirmed that defensive midfielder Petit, 28, had agreed to remain at the Lisbon club until 2010. "I am very happy here and always wanted to stay," said the Portuguese international. "I just want to continue the good work and hope to win more titles. My biggest dream is to win the UEFA Champions League with Benfica."

Source: Uefa.com