Ligue 1 strugglers Monaco have bolstered their defensive options by signing experienced Brazilian centre-back Naldo from Schalke.
The 36-year-old had been a regular fixture in the Bundesliga for most of his 13 and a half years in Germany, playing for Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg before making the switch to Schalke in 2016.
The former Brazil international will add much-needed experience to a Monaco team which has shipped 29 goals in 18 Ligue 1 games – only rock-bottom Guingamp, Dijon and Amiens have conceded more.
Incoming ... pic.twitter.com/ETDcoHT42Y— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) January 3, 2019
Monaco are enduring a woeful season domestically and look in real danger of relegation, having won the title under Leonardo Jardim in 2016-17.
Thierry Henry's men are second from bottom, with some suggesting their over-reliance on young players is backfiring.
No fewer than 19 players aged 22 or younger have featured for Monaco in Ligue 1 this term, but the move for Naldo suggests the club are now looking to older players in a bid to save them from relegation.
Naldo joins until June 2020 and Monaco are reported to have paid approximately €1million.
THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, #NALDO! #s04pic.twitter.com/Xm0aeXzlZZ— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) January 3, 2019
Cesc Fabregas - a former team-mate of Henry's at Arsenal - is also reported to be on his way to Monaco from Chelsea.
