Alves ready for Boro battle

Middlesbrough's record signing Afonso Alves has expressed his delight at finally making the move from Heerenveen to Boro and admitted he was impressed with the city and the stadium before making the move.

"I promise the fans that there will be many goals before the summer. Free-kicks are my speciality but I want to score goals no matter where they are from. I am excited about the challenge," Alves told Boro's official website.

"I'm really happy to have joined Middlesbrough but also relieved that the transfer has been sorted after many complications. Now I am eager to start to play games for my new club.

"I had chances to go to other clubs but once I came to Middlesbrough and saw the training ground, the stadium and met the people I knew this was the club for me.

"Although Middlesbrough is a big Premier League club, it also has a very friendly environment. I immediately felt at home.

"I felt extremely welcome by the people at the club but I was very impressed by the way the fans received me in such a warm way even before I had signed.

"I can identify with the spirit of the town. Belo Horizonte, the city I come from in Brazil, is similar to Middlesbrough as it has working people, industry and a love for football."