Figueroa makes way for Franco

Famous strike
Figueroa, who joined the Spanish UEFA Champions League challengers from CD Cruz Azul in November 2004, remains contracted to Villarreal until 2009 and will return to El Madrigal at the end of his loan spell in his native Argentina. The 24-year-old scored Villarreal's first ever goal in the UEFA Champions League, in the third qualifying round win at Everton FC in August, but his overall statistics of six goals in 24 Primera Division appearances for the Yellow Submarine are perhaps less stirring.

Mexican international
Replacing 'Lucho' in the Villarreal squad is Guillermo Franco, who arrives from Mexican club CF Monterrey in a €1.8m transfer. The 29-year-old is a player the Villarreal coach, Manuel Luis Pellegrini, knows well, the two men having worked together at Argentinian side CA San Lorenzo. Franco, who has Mexican citizenship and, with four caps already, hopes to represent Mexico at this summer's FIFA World Cup, has agreed a three-and-a-half year contract. He caught the eye at Monterrey, scoring 47 goals in 101 league outings.