Anderson quits Villarreal for Qatar
Saturday, October 16, 2004
Article summary
Villarreal CF have sold leading goalscorer Sonny Anderson to Al Rayyan of Qatar for a €2m fee.
Article body
Villarreal CF announced today that leading goalscorer Sonny Anderson will leave to join Qatar-based outfit Al Rayyan following a last minute u-turn in negotiations.
Saturday deal
The Primera División side had tried to hang on to the striker, but chairman Fernando Roig admitted tonight that a €2m deal had been done for the 34-year-old Brazilian, who joined from Olympique Lyonnais last season and has a total of 198 league goals in Europe.
Ambicable solution
Roig said: "The situation was quite complicated because the player had made his intention to leave quite clear. But we have managed to come to a solution that has resolved the matter amicably." Villarreal meet RCD Mallorca on Sunday without Anderson, and begin their UEFA Cup Group E campaign at S.S. Lazio on Thursday.
