Riera in, Finnan and Voronin out
Monday, September 1, 2008
Article summary
Liverpool FC have rubber-stamped the signing of Spain winger Albert Riera from RCD Espanyol while allowing Steve Finnan to move to the Barcelona-based club and loaning Andriy Voronin to Hertha BSC Berlin.
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Three arrivals
Riera, 26, has signed a four-year contract after arriving at Anfield for an undisclosed fee. Capped five times by Spain but omitted from their UEFA EURO 2008™ squad, Riera is one of three players recruited by Liverpool today, along with 18-year-old Brazilian striker Vitor Flora – captured from Botafogo FC on a free transfer subject to international clearance – and Hungarian goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi, also 18, whose loan from MTK Budapest has been made permanent.
Long-time target
Manager Rafael Benítez, whose Reds side meet Olympique de Marseille, PSV Eindhoven and Club Atlético de Madrid in UEFA Champions League Group D, said of the Riera transfer: "Riera has the qualities we were looking for. He's a left-footer who normally plays on the left wing. He's good in the air, strong, powerful and a good crosser. He's the kind of player we have been talking about. He can beat players and get good deliveries into the area for our strikers. We've known about him for a long time, since he was at [RCD] Mallorca and then through his career with [FC Girondins de] Bordeaux, Manchester City [FC] and Espanyol. "
Espanyol busy
Republic of Ireland right-back Finnan, 32, has gone to Espanyol for an undisclosed fee, accepting a deal until 2010. After moving to Liverpool from Fulham FC in 2003, the former Birmingham City FC and Notts County FC defender made 145 Premier League appearances for the Merseysiders. Espanyol completed a hectic day's business by recruiting RSC Anderlecht's 24-year-old centre-back Nicolás Pareja – on a four-year contract and for a €5m fee – as well as AS Monaco FC midfielder Nené, on a season-long loan with the option of a permanent switch.
Voronin loan
Finally, 29-year-old Ukraine forward Voronin will spend the 2008/09 campaign with Hertha Berlin, 12 months after landing in Liverpool from Bayer 04 Leverkusen. He registered five goals in 19 Premier League outings for Benítez's team. Hertha's UEFA Cup adventure continues in the first round against Irish club Saint Patrick's Athletic FC on 18 September and 2 October.
