Porto free to play Leandro

Porto have been granted permission by Fifa to field Brazilian starlet Leandro Bonfim.

The 21-year-old was handed a contract by the Portuguese champions during January, but the move was halted when Dutch league leaders PSV Eindhoven demanded compensation having nurtured the youngster earlier in his career.

The case was forwarded to Fifa, who have now ruled that Leandro can start playing for Porto - despite a fee still being haggled over.

Fifa are happy for the contract to be ratified, which appears to suggest that a deal between Porto and PSV is close to being concluded.

Leandro had a deal with PSV which tied him to the Philips Stadion until the summer of 2007, but Guus Hiddink said the youngster did not figure in his plans and was happy for him to leave provided a compensation package could be agreed.