By JOSEPH WILSON
Associated Press Sports
updated 12:45 p.m. ET Aug. 20, 2012
The Associated Press
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -Cameroon midfielder Alex Song signed a five-year contract with Barcelona on Monday, bringing an end to his time with Premier League club Arsenal.
Song posed for the traditional photo in front of the club's insignia before passing a medical examination and meeting with Barcelona President Sandro Rosell.
The Spanish club paid Arsenal ?19 million ($23.4 million) for Song. Arsenal sold striker Robin van Persie to Manchester United earlier this week for 24 million pounds ($38 million).
Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova said he was impressed with Song's versatility.
"(Song) can provide us with a lot of things. He's very good, he recovers the ball well and then can do good things with it," said Vilanova, who sees Song sharing time with Sergio Busquets as a defensive midfielder alongside the more attack-minded Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez.
"Busquets can't play every game of the season so Song will be a great addition," he said. "And he can also play in the center of the defense. With him we'll have more alternatives (because) he can play in three different positions."
Song is Barcelona's second signing this summer after defender Jordi Alba, who joined from Valencia.
Barcelona thrashed Real Sociedad 5-1 in its Spanish league opener on Sunday.
On Thursday, Barcelona hosts Real Madrid in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup.
? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
advertisement
More newsGetty ImagesHighlights: Union, DC United battle to tie
??D.C. United's Dwayne De Rosario misses a retaken penalty kick in an angry ending at RFK Stadium that included three red cards as nine-man D.C. United tied the 10-man Philadelphia Union 1-1 in the 71st minute.
Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/48711955/ns/sports-soccer/
mitch hedberg secret service scandal shea weber greystone sidney crosby at the drive in alternative minimum tax
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.