Barcelona agree to sign Sanchez
Reuters - Thursday 21 July 2011, 18:56
MADRID - Barcelona have agreed to sign Udinese's Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez for 26 million euros plus a possible 11.5 million euros in variables
as the Spanish and European champions made their first addition
to their squad for next season.
"Udinese and FC Barcelona have reached a final agreement for
the transfer of Alexis Sanchez," Barca said in a statement on
their website on Thursday.
The 22-year-old will sign a five-year contract after
completing a medical on Monday, the statement added.
The highly-rated Sanchez will compete for a place in Barca
coach Pep Guardiola's starting 11 with World Player of the Year
Lionel Messi and Spain forwards David Villa and Pedro.
His move to the Catalan capital is likely to trigger the
departure of Spain Under-21 forward Bojan Krkic to Udinese's
Serie A rivals AS Roma.
Sanchez started out as a youth recruit at Chilean club
Cobreloa, where his goal-scoring exploits earned him the
nickname 'wonder kid'.
After joining Udinese in 2006, he had loan spells at Colo
Colo in Chile and River Plate in Argentina before returning to
Italy and winning a regular place in the first team in the
2008/09 season.
Voted Serie A player of last season by daily La Gazzetta
dello Sport after netting 12 goals in 31 matches, including four
in one game, he helped Chile reach the quarter-finals at the
Copa America.