Defenders in demand: Clubs make flurry of defensive acquisitions
Skrtel, Digne sign for Fenerbahce, Barca respectively, Benatia close
PHOTO: AFP
ISTANBUL:
Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel has completed his move to Fenerbahce from Liverpool, the Turkish club announced on Twitter yesterday.
Skrtel joined Liverpool from Russian club Zenit St Petersburg in January 2008 and made over 300 appearances for the Merseyside club.
No details over the length of contract were announced, but according to British media reports, the fee for the 31-year-old is about £5.5 million.
Despite an injury-hit season due to hamstring and tendon problems sustained in December, Skrtel made 27 appearances for Liverpool last season and helped them reach the Europa League final and an eighth-place finish in the standings last season.
Klopp sees no Balotelli future at Liverpool
Signing defenders was in fashion yesterday as Barcelona also unveiled France international Lucas Digne, who arrives from Paris Saint-Germain in a €16.5 million deal.
“This is the greatest club in the world, it’s the start of a big adventure for me,” the stylish Lille-trained left-back told a press conference. And he is eager to play alongside the likes of Neymar and Lionel Messi. “It’s an extra motivation and it’ll help me make enormous progress”.
Meanwhile, Morocco defender Mehdi Benatia has arrived in Turin for a medical as he looks to complete a switch from Bayern Munich to Juventus.
Ancelotti plans to build on Guardiola’s foundations
“Having touched down in Turin, Benatia made his way immediately to J-Medical, where he is carrying out routine tests ahead of a move to Juventus,” said the Italian club.
The 29-year-old, who played for Udinese and Roma in the Serie A before signing for Bayern in 2014, made 23 appearances for the German club last season.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2016.
Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel has completed his move to Fenerbahce from Liverpool, the Turkish club announced on Twitter yesterday.
Skrtel joined Liverpool from Russian club Zenit St Petersburg in January 2008 and made over 300 appearances for the Merseyside club.
No details over the length of contract were announced, but according to British media reports, the fee for the 31-year-old is about £5.5 million.
Despite an injury-hit season due to hamstring and tendon problems sustained in December, Skrtel made 27 appearances for Liverpool last season and helped them reach the Europa League final and an eighth-place finish in the standings last season.
Klopp sees no Balotelli future at Liverpool
Signing defenders was in fashion yesterday as Barcelona also unveiled France international Lucas Digne, who arrives from Paris Saint-Germain in a €16.5 million deal.
“This is the greatest club in the world, it’s the start of a big adventure for me,” the stylish Lille-trained left-back told a press conference. And he is eager to play alongside the likes of Neymar and Lionel Messi. “It’s an extra motivation and it’ll help me make enormous progress”.
Meanwhile, Morocco defender Mehdi Benatia has arrived in Turin for a medical as he looks to complete a switch from Bayern Munich to Juventus.
Ancelotti plans to build on Guardiola’s foundations
“Having touched down in Turin, Benatia made his way immediately to J-Medical, where he is carrying out routine tests ahead of a move to Juventus,” said the Italian club.
The 29-year-old, who played for Udinese and Roma in the Serie A before signing for Bayern in 2014, made 23 appearances for the German club last season.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2016.