Leonardo valencia set for Botafogo debut

Chile's forward Leonardo Valencia controls the ball during the 2017 Confederations Cup final football match between Chile and Germany at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on July 2, 2017. / AFP / Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 2, Chile international midfielder Leonardo Valencia has secured a brazilian work permit and is ready for his debut for Botafogo. The 26-year-old Valencia has already been training for the club of Rio de Janeiro for weeks now but his permit got delayed by bureaucracy, according to media reports, reports Xinhua news agency. Botafogo wrote on Twitter that Valencia was set to play by the Brazilian Football Confederation on Tuesday. Valencia had joined the two-time Brazilian Serie A champions on a three-year deal from Chilean outfit Palestino last month.

He has been capped eight times for Chile’s national team, scoring one goal since his international debut last year. Botafogo, currently seventh in Brazil’s top-flight standings, will play their next match against reigning league champions Palmeiras on Wednesday.