Post by Toby on Jul 2, 2005 23:17:12 GMT
MADRID, July 1 (Reuters)
Real Madrid have signed Uruguayan internationals Pablo Garcia and Carlos Diogo, the Spanish club said in a statement on Friday.
Midfielder Garcia has signed a four-year contract and defender Diogo a five-year deal.
Garcia, 28, has a reputation as a tough-tackling midfielder, though he was also the main playmaker for Primera Liga side Osasuna. He will compete for the midfield holding role at Real with Denmark's Thomas Gravesen.
Diogo, 21, signed from Argentine side River Plate, is a versatile player comfortable in defence or midfield.
Garcia and Diogo will be officially presented as Real Madrid players next week and will join the squad for this month's tour of the United States, China, Japan and Thailand.
The signing of players who are not household names is further evidence that Real Madrid are moving away from their policy of only recruiting big-name players.
The policy has come under fire because of their failure to win a major trophy for two years despite having a team packed with internationals like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Raul.
Speculation is intense in the Spanish media that Real will soon sign Brazilian striker Robinho, although the chairman of his club Santos has said that any team that wants him before the end of his contract in 2008 would have to pay €50million (£30million).
Real Madrid have signed Uruguayan internationals Pablo Garcia and Carlos Diogo, the Spanish club said in a statement on Friday.
Midfielder Garcia has signed a four-year contract and defender Diogo a five-year deal.
Garcia, 28, has a reputation as a tough-tackling midfielder, though he was also the main playmaker for Primera Liga side Osasuna. He will compete for the midfield holding role at Real with Denmark's Thomas Gravesen.
Diogo, 21, signed from Argentine side River Plate, is a versatile player comfortable in defence or midfield.
Garcia and Diogo will be officially presented as Real Madrid players next week and will join the squad for this month's tour of the United States, China, Japan and Thailand.
The signing of players who are not household names is further evidence that Real Madrid are moving away from their policy of only recruiting big-name players.
The policy has come under fire because of their failure to win a major trophy for two years despite having a team packed with internationals like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Raul.
Speculation is intense in the Spanish media that Real will soon sign Brazilian striker Robinho, although the chairman of his club Santos has said that any team that wants him before the end of his contract in 2008 would have to pay €50million (£30million).
And here some video-streams:
I think that both players are good transfers, if necessary Pablo could replace Gravesen equivalently. Diogo is an excellent tackler, has an impressing physical constitution and should be probably replacement for Salgado and Roberto Carlos.
Both have an EU-passport (Pablo=spanish, Diogo=italian), so still another place is remaining for Robinho (RC becomes spaniard).
