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Sep 15, 2011   |  3:04PM AET

Victory sign duo

Victory sign duo

Melbourne Victory have announced the signing of Brazilian defender Fabio and former Sheffield United goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas.

Melbourne Victory have announced the signing of Brazilian defender Fabio and former Sheffield United goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas.

Fabio, a former Brazilian under-20 representative, has signed a 12-month deal with Victory after impressing in last weekend’s pre-season friendly win over reigning premier Brisbane Roar.

The 26-year-old, whose full name is Fabio Alves Macedo, was most recently plying his trade for Brazilian side Volta Redonda and Victory football director Francis Awaritefe said the club was delighted to have secured his services.

“Having lost Surat Sukha a couple of months ago, it was a priority of the football department to find a high quality replacement and Fabio certainly fits the bill,” Awaritefe said.

“Mehmet (Durakovic) and Kevin (Muscat) thought he had a fantastic game against Brisbane last weekend and we-re very pleased to have him onboard for the upcoming season.”

Thomas has just returned home to Australia after a spell with English League 1 side Sheffield United, and the 19-year-old will provide competition and a quality deputy for current number one Tando Velaphi.

“Lawrence has shown that he-s a young ‘keeper with a bright future and under the tutelage of Steve Mautone we hope he can develop into an outstanding prospect for us in goal,” Awaritefe said.

Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory’s W-League team announced they will not be re-signing Matildas goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri for the upcoming season, going instead with Brianna Davey.

Coach Vicki Linton, admitted it had been ‘a very difficult decision’, but said the club was lucky to have a wealth of goalkeeping prospects in Victoria.

“Victoria is very lucky in the talent we have here,” Linton said.

“We have a long history of producing world class goalkeepers, from FFA and FFV Hall of Fame inductee Theresa Deas, to Melissa Barbieri who has performed outstandingly for Melbourne Victory and the Matildas.”

“I don-t think there’s any question that Brianna Davey has the talent to join that elite group in the very near future.”