Euro transfer news – ambitious Genoa win race to sign Veloso
Published:Portugal midfielder and hitherto Premier League target Miguel Veloso is set to join Serie A side Genoa, his current employers Sporting Lisbon have confirmed.
Veloso had reportedly been a transfer target for Arsenal and Manchester United, but the 24-year-old has spoken excitedly about working with Genoa manager Gian Piero Gasperini.
“I can’t wait to start this adventure and to speak with Gasperini,” Veloso said. “I already know that Genoa are strong. I have seen them on television and I know that the team has big ambitions.”
Genoa may be 150/1 to win Serie A this season, but Gasperini is a shrewd coach, and the northern Italian club will be targeting European qualification at least.
In Primera Liga, meanwhile, Villarreal have completed the signing of Spain’s World Cup-winning defender Carlos Marchena on a three-year contract.
Marchena, 31, joins from Valencia, and he will be reunited with Spanish team-mate Joan Capdevilla in the Villarreal defence.
Having finished seventh last season, Villarreal will be hoping to return to a Champions League qualifying spot, and they are 100/1 to win the Primera Liga title.
Another eye-catching La Liga move sees Espanyol’s all-time leading goalscorer Raul Tamudo leave the Catalan club to join Real Sociedad.
Sociedad have just won promotion to Primera Liga, and their acquisition of the 32-year-old former Spanish international will be a boost to their hopes of survival.
Elsewhere in Spain, yet another Barcelona player has urged Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas to swap the Emirates Stadium for the Nou Camp.
Following the example of team-mates Xavi, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta and Gerard Pique, Barca’s Lionel Messi has now issued a come-and-join-me plea to the Spanish midfielder.
“I hope that the matter can be resolved soon,” Messi said. “And I’m confident that in the end it will be resolved in the way that Cesc can be a Barcelona player.”
Would signing Fabregas make Barcelona unbeatable? They are 4/5 to win Primera Liga. See the full Primera Liga Betting Odds market.
