LISBON, Jul 24 (SW) - In anticipation of their Champions League campaign next month, Sporting Clube de Portugal signed veteran midfielder Carlos Paredes to a three-year deal.

The 30-year-old Paraguay international joins the Iberian side on a free transfer from Italian club Reggina, who recently became implicated in a match-fixing scandal.

Paredes, who has played in three World Cups and has 71 caps to his credit, has played in Portugal before, spending two seasons with FC Porto before going to Reggina in 2002. He also played at Olimpía in Paraguay before going to Europe.

The player, who claimed he also had offers to play in both Mexico and England, is Sporting's second signing of the summer after Sweden international Pontus Farnerud.