Real Betis full back Cristiano Piccini has joined Sporting Club de Portugal in a deal worth €3m, it has been confirmed.
The 24-year-old has signed a five-year contract with Sporting and becomes their second signing for next season after centre-back Andre Pinto.
The Italian joined the Seville-based club in 2014 on a loan before from Fiorentina signing permanently from the Italian outfit in the summer of 2015.
The Viola had a buyback option for the right-back, but they have instead settled for part of the fee paid by the Portuguese side, while Betis have also retained a cut of the player’s future sale.
Piccini spent three seasons with Los Verdiblancos, helping the Andalucians back into La Liga in his first season and making 58 appearances in total.
However, a mix of injuries, poor form and the emergence of Rafa Navarro limited the 24-year-old’s impact in 2016-17.
