Mavuba Joins Villarreal For €8m
Quote:
Rio Mavuba has agreed to join Villarreal from Bordeaux after the latest negotiations produced a deal, the player confirmed on his personal website.
The 23-year-old midfielder will pen a five-year deal at El Madrigal after the two clubs agreed a fee of around €8m.
Juventus and Werder Bremen were also monitoring his situation, but the Spanish side have moved quickly to wrap up the transfer.
A key to the deal, according to Mavouba's website, was the chance to play alongside fellow Frenchman Robert Pirès who impressed at Villarreal after recovering from a knee injury towards the end of last season.
Having been born in a boat off in international waters after his parents looked to escape the Angolan civil war, the player has 'Born at Sea' on his passport rather than a nationality.
Despite that, he was brought up in France and after playing for the national Under-21 team earned his first senior cap in 2004.
After four years at Bordeaux, Mavuba is keen to experience life in a new country and sees the Spanish league as the most exciting challenge.
That desire has made smoothed the path for Villarreal's move and the Yellow Submarine are now locked in negotiations to add him to their ever-increasing squad.
Coach Manolo Pellegrini has had a busy summer already with five new arrivals and six players being alowed to leave.
from Goal.com
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Goal.com - Spain - Mavuba Joins Villarreal For €8m
Love the bold bit
Damn good signing I think especially for the price. I think Villarreal are planning extremely smartly for next season. They're not spending a lot but they've already brought in Ayala, Diego Lopez and Capdevilla for the defence.
This is a transitional time for Villarreal as they are now building a team that doesn't revolve around Riquelme. They may be going for 4 at the back with 2 Defensive midfielders in Mavuba and Senna with extreme use of wing play where Cani will be more at use and Pires if he has the pace although he was mainly used as a number 10 playmaker when he came back last season.
Forlan is also gone and they must find a new striker. They have Nihat who is fantastic to partner him who was injured last season so Villarreal look like they're building a very solid team for next year.