Phil Minshull BBC Sport, Spain

McCarthy had a tough time in Spain

Benni McCarthy's Spanish nightmare has come to an end with his club Celta Vigo announcing that they have sold him to Porto.

The South African international forward joins the Portuguese champions in a deal worth just over three million dollars.

McCarthy is familiar with Porto having spent the second half of the 2001/02 season on-loan at the club.

Porto wanted to sign the outspoken striker last summer but were put off by Celta's transfer fee of US$5m.

However, the Portuguese outfit kept their eye on McCarthy during his fourth and final season in arguably the best league in the world.

McCarthy will not be sorry to say 'adios' to Spain and move just a few kilometres over the border.

Wrong

His first season, after arriving from Ajax Amsterdam, showed his potential as he scored a respectable eight goals in 31 league games.

But things started to go wrong the following season when his scoring touch deserted him.

McCarthy subsequently lost his place in the starting line up at the Galician club. He made just eight league appearances and failed to find the back of the net all season.

If the South African had thought things had reached rock bottom in 2001, he was wrong.

During the first half of the 2001/02 season he only got on the field twice and played a grand total of 17 minutes although his spell on-loan at Porto did wonders to restore his confidence.

"I want to stay at Celta and fight for my place. My relationship with the Celta fans is fine but I don't know if the club really want me," McCarthy admitted to BBC Sport website at last summer's World Cup.