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Rangers sign Euro 2016-winning defender Bruno Alves

The 35-year-old former Porto and Zenit St Petersburg man is compatriot Pedro Caixinha’s first signing.

RANGERS HAVE ANNOUNCED a two-year deal for Portugal international Bruno Alves.

The Scottish Premiership club, who finished third and whopping 39 points behind Celtic this season, have recruited the veteran centre-half after he left Serie A side Cagliari.

35-year-old Alves started his professional career at Porto and won four league titles before joining Zenit St Petersburg for €22 million in 2010. He lifted the Russian league trophy twice in three years and claimed another in Turkey with Fenerbahce.

Capped 89 times for Portugal, he has featured at four major tournaments and won Euro 2016. Alves has also been picked for the upcoming Confederations Cup squad.

“In my opinion all teams need to be built and organised from the back and Bruno is a very talented and experienced player,” said the Gers’ Portuguese boss Pedro Caixinha, making his first summer signing.

“He is also really mature and a leader with a strong character, so I’m very happy that he has signed a two-year deal with us at the beginning of this new project and this new cycle we want to start with Rangers.

“I’m also very happy of course that he is my first signing.”

Portugal v France - UEFA Euro 2016 - Final - Stade de France Alves with Pepe, Jose Fonte and Cristiano Ronaldo after winning the European Championship. EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

He added: “What is important is that he is a winner with a winning mentality and that is something we all want, to put the club on a winning track again.

“Bruno will be a leader in the dressing room and he will demand a lot from himself and others in the squad, both on the pitch and in our training sessions.

“The players we are trying to bring to Rangers, we want them to have that character, that experience and that maturity, but also that winning mentality. Bruno will definitely be one player who is going to help with that.”

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