La Liga - Raul Albiol to join Real Madrid

Eurosport - Thu, 25 Jun 13:32:00 2009

Real Madrid have agreed to sign defender Raul Albiol from Valencia on a five-year contract, the big-spending Liga club announced.

FOOTBALL Raúl Albiol Valencia - 0

The deal will be completed next week once the 23-year-old Spain international, who is at the Confederations Cup in South Africa, completes a medical and signs his contract, Real said on their website.

Spanish media reported the transfer fee was around 15 million euros (£13m).

Albiol will become the second confirmed signing by new Real president Florentino Perez following his purchase of Brazil playmaker Kaka from Milan for around 67 million euros.

Perez has also bid £80m for Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, with the deal expected to be completed in the next few days.

Albiol, who suffered a serious car crash in 2004 which left him without a spleen, is likely to partner Portuguese international Pepe in central defence although Madrid could buy another centre half this summer, with Pepe six matches into a 10-game ban.

Albiol made his Valencia debut in 2003 and first played for Spain in a 3-1 win over Denmark in 2007.

Reuters

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  1. real madrid next season :)
    Casillas
    Ramos Pepe Albiol­ zaparta
    alonso essien
    Ronaldo kaka ribery
    ­ villa

    From Raimo K, on Thu 25 Jun 8:30PM

  2. yaeh you are right as always my friend i would go for­ benzema as well. but i think after spain lost to USA,­ david villas price will drop down a bit. I think he­ will be sold for 35 millon, and if that is the case i­ think real madrid should sign villa instead of benzema.

    From Raimo K, on Thu 25 Jun 8:28PM

  3. to Raimo
    yes you are right essien is the best­ diffencive mid and i think he will be the best­ option
    he will come if agree the money offered
    about­ villa and benzima
    villa is by far the best
    but i will­ choose benzima, for two reason,
    1 benzima is 21 while­ villa 27
    2 villa is much expensive
    so i will go for­ benzima

    From getachew44, on Thu 25 Jun 7:57PM

  4. to getachew44. who do you think Madrid should sign­ Benzema or david Villa???

    From Raimo K, on Thu 25 Jun 7:37PM

  5. hi getachew44. did you say something about michael­ essien. it would be great if he joins. i think he is­ better than alonso. i am not sure about arbeloa. why do­ real madrid need him. i think he would just be a­ substitute for real madrid.

    From Raimo K, on Thu 25 Jun 7:26PM

  6. Raimo nice to hear from you freind
    you are right but­ perez make 30mil euro bid for alonso but liverpool­ refuse
    now there is alot of talking with mickel essien­ and maicon
    so i think perez is doing right­ thing
    remaimber perez is not alone there are genuis­ people around him like valdano zidane and peligreni
    now­ we have kaka ronaldo garay and arbeol
    ribery and maicon­ sooner will be in madrid thanx to zidane and valdano

    From getachew44, on Thu 25 Jun 5:12PM

  7. perez should put as much effort in buying defenders as­ he does in buying forwards. Wasted money.

    From Raimo K, on Thu 25 Jun 4:02PM

  8. Wow another signing for Real Madrid. They obviously­ have a HUGE BUDGET this year. Watch out Man Utd!!!

    From www.gmsport.co.uk, on Thu 25 Jun 3:07PM
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