Panathinaikos splash out on Cissé
Friday, June 26, 2009
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Panathinaikos FC have signed French international Djibril Cissé from Olympique de Marseille for a reported fee of €10m ahead of their entry into the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round.
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Panathinaikos FC have signed French international striker Djibril Cissé from Olympique de Marseille for a reported fee of €10m.
Rapturous reception
The 27-year-old has agreed a four-year contract with the Greek Super League side after passing a medical in Athens. Cissé spent the majority of last season on loan at Sunderland AFC, scoring ten league goals in 35 appearances and was greeted by more than 2,000 Panathinaikos fans when he arrived on Thursday.
European pedigree
Reared at AJ Auxerre under Guy Roux, Cissé moved to Liverpool FC in 2004 after scoring 70 goals in 128 games for the Ligue 1 club. In his first season at Anfield he helped Liverpool win the UEFA Champions League, coming on as a substitute in the final. After two years with the Reds, he returned to France and had a further two seasons with returning to England for the 2008/09 campaign. Cissé won the last of his 37 caps in May last year. Panathinaikos enter this season's UEFA Champions League at the third qualifying round stage after securing top spot in the end-of-season Greek play-offs.