Young Manchester City midfielder Marcos Lopes signs for Lille on a season-long loan deal.
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Manchester City have confirmed a short-term departure from the club today, with teenage midfielder Marcos Lopes signing for Ligue 1 club Lille on a one-year loan deal.
The 18 year-old Portuguese youth international is one of the most highly rated young players at the City of Manchester Stadium, with City likely to be looking for enough progress from Lopes in France for him to join the first team squad on a regular basis during the following season.
He was signed as a youth player from Benfica in 2011 and has made senior appearances for City in both of the English domestic cup competitions during the 2013/14 season.
City were also sufficiently impressed to take the player on their post-season tour of the Middle East, where he netted a goal in their victory over Al-Ain.
Lille enjoyed a successful season in Ligue 1 last season, holding off stern competition from St. Etienne to secure Champions League qualification for the new campaign.
Lopes is likely to join the likes of former Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou in attack and will be hoping to add creativity and goals to a team whose success has largely been based on the abilities of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and his back four.
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