Chelsea Confirm Belletti Deal
Chelsea FC have now confirmed that they have reached an agreement with FC Barcelona over the transfer of Juliano Belletti.
zoom - galleria Goal.com had revealed late last night that a 5.5 million euro deal had been struck between Chelsea and Barcelona for Brazilian full-back Juliano Belletti, who had already travelled to London to complete the formalities.
The agreement has now been confirmed by the Blues, and the player will pen a three year deal after completing a medical and agreeing terms.
Said Chelsea through a statement:
Chelsea Football Club and FC Barcelona have reached an agreement for the transfer of Juliano Belletti, subject to the player agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.
Chelsea have been in the market for a right back pretty much since the start of the summer, and Daniel Alves had been the number one target for over a month.
However, Sevilla refused to budge from their 36 million euro valuation of the right-back, and in fact raised it to 40 million on Wednesday.
It was a clear indication that they wanted to hang on to their star player as they head for their maiden Champions League campaign. Chelsea understood the signs full well (alternatively, you could say that their patience finally wore thin).
With Real Madrid selling fellow Brazilian right-back Cicinho to Roma, another avenue was closed, and the Blues decided to pitch for yet another Brazilian full-back in Juliano Belletti.
Belletti had a reasonably good first two seasons at the Nou Camp after moving from Villarreal in a swap deal involving Jose Reina in 2004. In fact, he wrote himself into Barcelona's history books in May 2006, when he scored the winner against Arsenal in the Champions League final.
However, he has since been demoted to the bench due to the arrival of Gianluca Zambrotta from Juventus, and was keen on a move away in order to get more first team chances. That he will get at Chelsea, who actually played Michael Essien at right-back against Liverpool last weekend.
He has won two La Liga titles and the Champions League with Barcelona, as well as the 2002 World Cup with Brazil. Like most Brazilian full-backs, he is at his best when going forward, and can also play as an 'out and out' winger.
Chelsea FC have now confirmed that they have reached an agreement with FC Barcelona over the transfer of Juliano Belletti.
zoom - galleria Goal.com had revealed late last night that a 5.5 million euro deal had been struck between Chelsea and Barcelona for Brazilian full-back Juliano Belletti, who had already travelled to London to complete the formalities.
The agreement has now been confirmed by the Blues, and the player will pen a three year deal after completing a medical and agreeing terms.
Said Chelsea through a statement:
Chelsea Football Club and FC Barcelona have reached an agreement for the transfer of Juliano Belletti, subject to the player agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.
Chelsea have been in the market for a right back pretty much since the start of the summer, and Daniel Alves had been the number one target for over a month.
However, Sevilla refused to budge from their 36 million euro valuation of the right-back, and in fact raised it to 40 million on Wednesday.
It was a clear indication that they wanted to hang on to their star player as they head for their maiden Champions League campaign. Chelsea understood the signs full well (alternatively, you could say that their patience finally wore thin).
With Real Madrid selling fellow Brazilian right-back Cicinho to Roma, another avenue was closed, and the Blues decided to pitch for yet another Brazilian full-back in Juliano Belletti.
Belletti had a reasonably good first two seasons at the Nou Camp after moving from Villarreal in a swap deal involving Jose Reina in 2004. In fact, he wrote himself into Barcelona's history books in May 2006, when he scored the winner against Arsenal in the Champions League final.
However, he has since been demoted to the bench due to the arrival of Gianluca Zambrotta from Juventus, and was keen on a move away in order to get more first team chances. That he will get at Chelsea, who actually played Michael Essien at right-back against Liverpool last weekend.
He has won two La Liga titles and the Champions League with Barcelona, as well as the 2002 World Cup with Brazil. Like most Brazilian full-backs, he is at his best when going forward, and can also play as an 'out and out' winger.
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