Ex-Wanderer Rodrigo on brink of megabucks Russian move

Portuguese sports paper A Bola is reporting that former Bolton Wanderers loan man Rodrigo Moreno is on the brink of leaving Benfica to join Russian side Zenit St Petersburg for an eye-watering £25m.

The paper has suggested that Zenit are prepared to offer up to €35 million for the Rodrigo and defensive partner Ezequiel Garay, both of whom have spent time at Real Madrid.

The same source has revealed that Benfica chairman Luis Felipe Vieira and Portugese agent Jorge Mendes travelled to London yesterday to meet the representatives of the Russian club, which would suggest an agreement is on the cards.

Rodrigo has shown a great deal of promise since he arrived at Estadio da Luz from Real Madrid, and has since bagged 20 goals in 54 league appearances.

Bolton fans will remember Rodrigo from his 2010/11 loan spell at the club.

He made his debut in an away defeat in the League Cup to local rivals Burnley in September, starting in a 0-1 away loss.

Rodrigo made his league debut for the club the following month, at Wigan Athletic, coming on as a substitute for Lee Chung-Yong midway through the second half of a 1-1 draw.

In January 2011, against the same opponent, he scored his only goal of the campaign, with the game ending with the same result.

He returned to Portugal at the end of the season having made 17 appearances, scoring once.