Rapid reinforce ranks
Thursday, May 29, 2003
Article summary
Romanian champions FC Rapid Bucuresti have signed Moroccan international Noureddine Ziyati.
Article body
Romanian champions FC Rapid Bucuresti have signed Moroccan international Noureddine Ziyati on a three-year contract.
Rednic role
Rapid coach Mircea Rednic, who owns a house in Liege in Belgium, secured the deal after going to the Lowlands personally to negotiate with the 29-year-old R. Antwerp FC midfield player. Ziyati played in his homeland until 1999 when he moved to Turkish club Bursaspor. In 2000 he moved on to Antwerp.
Champions League approaches
The signing of Ziyati is the first step in Rapid's bid to strengthen their side ahead of the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League. "Our squad is not experienced and strong enough to aim for the group stage of the competition," said the club's midfield player Ioan Ovidiu Sabau, who recently announced his retirement.
Sabau replacement
Ziyati is intended to replace Sabau and he will therefore play in midfield alongside Emmanuel Godfroid who several days ago agreed to extend his existing contract with Rapid for another two years.
