Madrid swoop for free agent Hamit Altıntop
Thursday, May 19, 2011
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Real Madrid CF have confirmed their second signing in preparation for next season after Turkish midfielder Hamit Altıntop agreed to join on a free transfer from FC Bayern München.
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Hamit Altıntop has followed Turkish international team-mate Nuri Şahin to Real Madrid CF after agreeing a free transfer from FC Bayern München.
The midfielder will sign a four-year deal at the Santiago Bernabéu when his contract expires with the Bavarian club on 30 June. The 28-year-old becomes José Mourinho's second capture ahead of next season's UEFA Champions League campaign after confirming the arrival of Şahin last week from German champions Borussia Dortmund.
Altıntop, who began his career with SG Wattenscheid 09, joined Bayern in 2007 following four campaigns with FC Schalke 04 and went on to win two Bundesliga titles and two German Cups. He started the 2010 UEFA Champions League final defeat against Mourinho's FC Internazionale Milano at the Santiago Bernabéu but has not held down a regular starting role at Bayern in recent seasons.
German-born Altıntop has played 63 times for Turkey, scoring seven goals, and was a member of the UEFA EURO 2008 Team of the Tournament after his country reached the semi-finals. Madrid will play in the 2011/12 UEFA Champions League group stage with the club guaranteed to finish second to FC Barcelona in the Spanish Liga this term.