Montero is in Lisbon on loan with a view to a permanent move.
Fredy Montero’s Sporting Lisbon career got off to a fantastic start as the Columbian striker bagged a hat trick in Lisbon’s 5-1 win over newly promoted Arouca.
Montero joined Seattle in their inaugural MLS season and is the club’s all-time leading scorer with 47 goals in MLS play. Overall, he scored 60 goals with 43 assists across all competitions for the Sounders.
A three-time MLS All-Star, Montero recorded 23 game-winning goals and 12 game-winning assists across all competitions in his four seasons with the Sounders and helped them win three straight US Open Cups from 2009-11.
The move was made after a loan spell at Millionarios, where Montero scored eight goals in 22 appearances, and before flying out to Lisbon Montero called the move a “dream come true.”
“That’s my dream coming true,” Montero said . “I hope to do good there. I was waiting for this opportunity in past years and it’s here now. Hopefully I can enjoy that opportunity like I did with my other ones in the past.”
Although he hopes to succeed in Europe, Montero keeps strong ties with Seattle – he married a Seattle native, bought a home he still owns and moved his family here. His wife, who is pregnant, won’t immediately join Montero in order to ensure that their first child is born in Seattle.
“I came here as a young player,” the 25-year-old said. “I had the opportunity to grow, becoming mature inside the game and outside the field. I’m glad to have my past with this team and it will always be my home.”
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