Friday, August 20, 2004

Liverpool Complete Garcia Swoop

Yahoo%21 Sport - Liverpool Complete Garcia Swoop

Seems Liverpool are buying half of Spain. Another one on his way? Also today, reports on the official sites that Xabi Alonso is having a medical prior to signing for the Reds.

Here's the Garcia story...

Barcelona claim they have sold forward Luis Garcia to Liverpool for £6million, subject to a medical.

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Barca's sporting director Txiki Begiristain expects the deal will be completed on Friday.

"I am happy for him because he is on the verge of signing for a big club," Begiristain told www.fcbarcelona.com.

Should the fine details of the move be resolved, Luis Garcia will join compatriots Josemi and Antonio Nunez at the Merseyside club, with Xabi Alonso also expected to join from Real Sociedad.

Begiristain continued: "The agreement between the two clubs is practically done. Liverpool will pay the buy-out clause of nine million euros.

"We didn't know if Luis Garcia was going to perform the same way this season as he did last time, but I congratulate him (on the move)."

Xabi Alonso's move to Anfield is not yet complete, but that did not stop the player revealing his desire to work with Reds boss Rafael Benitez, who led Valencia to the Primera Liga title and UEFA Cup glory last season.

"This is a new opportunity and experience for me and I am delighted to be going into a club with a lot of history and a great present," Alonso said.

"It is difficult to leave La Liga and Real Sociedad but it was Rafael Benitez who helped me decide to join Liverpool. I am happy about him being at the club. That helped me to go there."