Wenger makes shock Reyes signing
Tuesday January 27, 2004
Arsenal have smashed their transfer record by signing Sevilla starlet Jose Antonio Reyes for £16.6m.
Reyes, 20, who has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract, confirmed the news on his personal website, www.joseantonioreyes.com.
"I'm the happiest man and the saddest man in the world at the same time," he said. "I'm leaving the best team in Spain to join the best team in England."
Reyes, who can play as a second striker or a winger, has long been regarded as one of the best young talents in Spain. Indeed, Madrid sports daily Marca recently described him as "quite simply, a superstar. Dribbling, magic, vision and goals wrapped in one. With Reyes, the spectacular is guaranteed."
His manager Joaquín Caparrós is equally impressed, saying: "He thinks nothing of taking on four or five rivals".
Arsene Wenger had been rumoured to be interested in signing Reyes, who made his international debut for Spain against Portugal in the autumn, last year - but his interest was thought to have cooled when Reyes agreed a contract to keep him in Sevilla until 2010.
Now, however, Wenger has got his man after all.
Tuesday January 27, 2004
Arsenal have smashed their transfer record by signing Sevilla starlet Jose Antonio Reyes for £16.6m.
Reyes, 20, who has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract, confirmed the news on his personal website, www.joseantonioreyes.com.
"I'm the happiest man and the saddest man in the world at the same time," he said. "I'm leaving the best team in Spain to join the best team in England."
Reyes, who can play as a second striker or a winger, has long been regarded as one of the best young talents in Spain. Indeed, Madrid sports daily Marca recently described him as "quite simply, a superstar. Dribbling, magic, vision and goals wrapped in one. With Reyes, the spectacular is guaranteed."
His manager Joaquín Caparrós is equally impressed, saying: "He thinks nothing of taking on four or five rivals".
Arsene Wenger had been rumoured to be interested in signing Reyes, who made his international debut for Spain against Portugal in the autumn, last year - but his interest was thought to have cooled when Reyes agreed a contract to keep him in Sevilla until 2010.
Now, however, Wenger has got his man after all.
