Alireza Haghighi , Team Melli and Perspolis goalkeeper has joined Portuguese second division team Sporting Covilhã on loan.

Haghighi (25 years) has failed to get much playing time at his club Perspolis under Ali Daei where the Brazilian Nelson has virtually made the goalkeeping post his exclusive right with some splendid displays. The lack of playing time frustrated Haghighi and his protest lead to his suspension and temporary expulsion from the club.

In a astatement to ISNA, Haghighi hoped that playing in Europe, even a seocnd divison team in Portugal , will increase his chances to make the Team Melli squad going to the World Cup in June. Carlos Queiroz has been quite accommodating to Iraninas playing outsde the Domestic league giving quite a few of them opportunities.

Haghighi return to Iran re-joining his team Perspolis after an unsuccessful spell in Russia with Ruben Kazan where he was a second and third choice goalkeeper. However, many observers thought that returning to Perspolis where a solid goalkeeper was performing quite well for the club, seemed to be not a wise move by Haghghi.