San Lorenzo swoop for Ortigoza
Reuters - Saturday 05 February 2011, 16:25
BUENOS AIRES - Paraguay World Cup
midfielder Nestor Ortigoza has signed for San Lorenzo in one of
the biggest transfers of the Argentine off-season.
Argentine-born Ortigoza, who helped Paraguay reach the 2010
World Cup quarter-finals, moved from Argentinos Juniors,
champions of last season's Clausura.
No figures were given but Clarin newspaper said Ortigoza
cost $2.5 million with Argentinos retaining 20 percent of future
transfer fees.
San Lorenzo, one of Argentina's traditional "Big Five"
clubs, have strengthened their squad for the Clausura
championship kicking off next weekend and they hope to qualify
for the Copa Sudamericana, South America's equalivalent to the
Europa League.
"Our obligation is to fight for everything we play for,"
club president Carlos Abdo said on Friday night when San Lorenzo
unveiled their recruits including Uruguayan striker Juan Manuel
Salgueiro, signed from Argentine champions Estudiantes.
"I'm very happy, the penny hasn't dropped yet. I've come to
one of the big clubs and I hope to adapt quickly," the
26-year-old Ortigoza, regarded as the best holding midfielder in
the Argentine league, told a news conference.
Argentine striker Claudio Bieler, a Libertadores cup winner
with LDU Quito of Ecuador in 2009, has joined Newell's Old Boys
on loan after an unsettled year with Racing Club.