Portuguese champions FC Porto have agreed a 4 year contract with CA River Plate forward Ernesto Farias in a deal reported to be worth around €4 million.
The 27 year old Argentinian was set to join Mexican side Toluca FC however instead opted to head back to Europe, where he will look to build on his formidable reputation in his native country.
He is the 2nd highest scoring forward active in Argentinian football, his 125 goals 2nd to only CA Boca Juniors forward Martin Palermo, who played in Spain for several years. "It is one of the largest moments of my career," Farias said.
"I have joined a very big club and have achieved one of my goals of playing in Europe again. I will sacrifice everything for Porto and will aim to score goals, which is what every forward has to do."
Like Palermo, Farias made his name at Club Estudiantes de la Plata, for whom he scored almost 100 goals before leaving in 2004.
He tried his luck in Europe at Italian side US Citta di Palermo however failed to score in 13 appearances and returned to Argentina to sign for River Plate, scoring 35 goals in 3 seasons before joining Porto, who will compete in the UEFA Champions League group stage.
The club have already signed Fernando, Lino, Mario Bolatti, Luis Aguiar, Edgar, Mariano Gonzalez, Przemysław Kaźmierczak and Leandro Lima.
30 June 2007
Former The Hammers player Lionel Sebastien Scaloni says that a deal to join Lazio is in place.
The Argentine made the announcement in an interview with website 'Piazzadellaliberta.it' and will arrive on a free transfer.
'I reached an agreement with the club last week. This is a good opportunity for me and I cannot wait to play in the Champions League,' mentioned the 29 year old.
'I play on the right, even if I have also been used in midfield at lots of times in my career. Director of sport Sabatini mentioned Lazio were looking for a right back and here I am. I will arrive on July 9.'
His contract with Racing Santander has expired, so Scaloni will be able to make the transfer to Lazio free of charge.
He started his career at Newell's Old Boys and Estudiantes before moving to Europe for Deportivo La Coruna and The Hammers in the 2nd half of the 2005-06 campaign.
Scaloni was surprisingly picked in Argentina's 2006 World Cup team ahead of Inter captain Javier Zanetti.
29 June 2007
Christian Abbiati will be replaced at Torino by Lazio benchwarmer Matteo Sereni, as the Biancocelesti battle The Hammers for Juan Pablo Carrizo.
Earlier this week the Granata were left without a goalie after Milan-owned Abbiati opted to join Atletico Madrid on loan for a much better wage deal.
They were linked with several candidates, that included current AEK Athens shot stopper Stefano Sorrentino and Inter reserve Francesco Toldo.
However, it was said this evening that an agreement with Sereni was struck for a 2 year contract. He was a free agent after the end of his deal with Lazio.
It is an important move for the 32 year old, who has not been a 1st team player since his time at Brescia in 2002-03, and even then he only made 23 appearances.
Sereni started his career at Sampdoria in 1993, followed by spells at Crevalcore, Piacenza, Empoli and Ipswich Town.
So with Angelo Peruzzi hanging up his gloves and Sereni moving to Turin, Lazio need to go on the hunt for at least one reliable 1st choice goalkeeper.
The prime objective is Argentine star Carrizo, currently plying his trade for River Plate, the only club he has ever played for.
Still only 23, he is considered one for the future and is also of interest to The Hammers.
'It is true, we like Carrizo and Independiente's Oscar Ustari, and also Agustin Orion of San Lorenzo and Mariano Gonzalo Andujar from Estudiantes,' said director of sport Walter Sabatini.
'These are all excellent players, however we have not yet really begun negotiations with the clubs. We are still deciding.'
The transfer guru also denied reports that Lazio had already signed Boca Juniors man Matias Silvestre. 'He is a good player, however no longer of interest to us.'
22 June 2007
Midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme was included in Argentina's Copa America team less than a year after he said his international retirement.
Riquelme, who scored both goals as Boca Juniors beat Gremio 2-0 away to win South America's Copa Libertadores Wednesday, was included in the 22-man-squad said by the Argentine Football Assocation (AFA).
Riquelme mentioned in September that he would not play for his country again because criticism of his performances was affecting his mother's health.
He left Spanish club Villarreal in February after falling out with coach Manuel Pellegrini and returned on loan to Boca, the club where he made his name.
Since then, he was in inspirational form and a recall was widely expected.
Argentina's Copa America Squad,
Goalkeepers, Roberto Abbondanzieri (Getafe), Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate), Agustin Orion (San Lorenzo)
Defenders, Roberto Ayala (Valencia), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Hugo Ibarra (Boca Juniors), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza), Gabriel Heinze (Man Utd), Daniel Diaz (Boca Juniors), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan)
Midfielders, Luis Gonzalez (Porto), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Pablo Aimar (Real Zaragoza), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors)
Forwards, Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona), Hernan Crespo (Inter Milan), Diego Milito (Real Zaragoza), Carlos Tevez (The Hammers), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors)
10 June 2007
Argentina coach Alfio Basile has called up a group of 10 players, that included 9 who are based in Europe, for the Copa America, which gets underway in Venezuela on 26 June.
Estudiantes de La Plata midfielder Juan Sebastien Veron is the only player who competes in South America.
Argentina, who were drawn in Group C along with USA, Colombia and Paraguay, will announce their final team on 21 June.
Argentina team (initial selections)
Defenders, Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan/ITA), Javier Zanetti (Juve/ITA), Gabriel Heinze (Man Utd/ENG), Javier Pinola (Nuremberg/GER)
Midfielders, Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan/ITA), Luis Gonzalez (FC Porto/POR), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool/ENG), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes de la Plata/ARG).
Forward, Hernan Crespo (Chelsea/ENG), Carlos Tevez (West Ham/ENG)
