Orlando Sá Leaves Reading FC For Israel

After weeks of speculation it was finally announced today that Orlando Sá has left Reading. The Portuguese striker had only joined the club last summer from Legia Warsaw for a rumoured £1 million, but after scoring in just three of his 21 appearances he has made the move to sunnier climes.

Sá's short spell at the Madejski Stadium got off to a bad start when he missed an injury time penalty away to Birmingham. Early appearances looked promising without him ever looking like scoring.

His and Reading's season then exploded when he got his first goal in a convincing 3-1 win away to Brentford followed by a hat-trick in the 5-1 thrashing of Ipswich.

That was to be the peak of Sá's time in Berkshire as in the following game against Derby he cost his team the game with a stupid first half sending off. Another goal at Fulham looked like his troubles were over but a Ross McCormack goal seconds after his sent Reading's season into a rapid decline which they have never been able to escape.

Since that game Sá has failed to score and his last appearance in Reading colours came as a last minute sub in the FA Cup win over Huddersfield.

The list of clubs he has been linked with this month reads like a decent Interrail trip: Club Brugge, Atlanta (Bergamo) and AEK Athens but it is in the Holy Land where he will be next playing his football. Sá has signed a three and a half year contract with the Israeli champions.

In Tel Aviv he can enjoy the sun and sea. Away games in Haifa, with views of Mount Carmel, and Jerusalem certainly beat trips to Middlesbrough and Ipswich.

Good luck Orlando. Your season has epitomised Reading's and I'm sure you'll understand if we, by choosing to forget this season, soon forget you.