FC Penafiel eye Alireza Haghighi

Persianfootball.com – PENAFIEL, Portuguese first league side FC Penafiel are eager to recruit Iran’s World Cup starting goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi from Rubin Kazan.

The newly promoted club are looking for a goalkeeper and could sign the 26-year-old as early as next week, according Portuguese media reports.

The former Persepolis keeper had signed a contract with Rubin in 2012, but never played a competitive match for the Russians. He returned to Persepolis on loan in 2013, but after failing to get past veteran goalkeeper Nilsson there, penned a six-months deal with Portuguese second league side Sporting Covilha to get match praxis and regain form ahead of World Cup.

His good performances there earned him the starting goalkeeper position for Iran at the 2014 World Cup, during which he remained flawless.

Although his contract with Rubin is valid until 2015, Haghighi is likely to leave the club where veteran Ryzhnikov occupies the fixed spot between the posts.