Joaquín makes Mestalla move
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Article summary
Valencia CF have completed the transfer of the Spanish international winger Joaquín Sánchez from Real Betis Balompié for a fee in the region of €24m.
Article body
Valencia CF have completed the transfer of Spain winger Joaquín Sánchez from Real Betis Balompié for a fee in the region of €24m. The 25-year-old was due to undergo a medical at the Mestalla before being presented to the press tomorrow.
Notable addition
Joaquín is a notable addition to a Valencia squad whose new faces for 2006/07 also include Asier del Horno and Fernando Morientes. He can look forward to a season of UEFA Champions League football with Quique Flores's team after they secured their group-stage place by overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit with a 3-0 win against FC Salzburg in the third qualifying round on Tuesday.
Fresh challenge
The wide man had long been linked with a move away from Betis, for whom he made 219 league appearances and scored 32 goals after breaking into the first team in 2000. At one stage the Seville club had a €60m buyout clause inserted into his contract to deter would-be suitors but his departure became inevitable this summer after Joaquín confirmed his desire for a fresh challenge elsewhere.
