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Chelsea signs Barca defender Belletti
Chelsea signed right back Juliano Belletti from FC Barcelona on Thursday for an undisclosed fee.
- Associated Press
- Updated: August 25, 2007 05:10 PM IST
Read Time:2 min
London:
The 31-year-old defender, best known for scoring the winning goal for Barcelona against Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final, completed the move after agreeing to contract terms with the Blues and passing a medical test.
Chelsea's signing of Belletti suggests the club has finally accepted defeat in its attempt to sign another Brazilian right back, Daniel Alves, from Sevilla.
Chelsea was linked with Alves for several months and the player said he wanted to move, but the clubs could not reach agreement over a transfer.
"It has all been a great surprise," Belletti said. "Just yesterday I talked with Chelsea. We reached an agreement and so did Chelsea and Barcelona with no problem."
Belletti played for Cruzeiro, Sao Paulo, Atletico Mineiro and Villarreal before joining Barcelona in 2004.
He was a 71st-minute substitute in the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal at Stade de France and scored his first goal for Barcelona 10 minutes later, taking a pass from Henrik Larsson on the right of the penalty area and shooting past substitute goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.
Belletti will compete with the more defensive Paulo Ferreira and Glen Johnson for a place in the team.
Manager Jose Mourinho fielded midfielder Michael Essien at right back in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Liverpool.
Chelsea signed right back Juliano Belletti from FC Barcelona on Thursday for an undisclosed fee.The 31-year-old defender, best known for scoring the winning goal for Barcelona against Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final, completed the move after agreeing to contract terms with the Blues and passing a medical test.
Chelsea's signing of Belletti suggests the club has finally accepted defeat in its attempt to sign another Brazilian right back, Daniel Alves, from Sevilla.
Chelsea was linked with Alves for several months and the player said he wanted to move, but the clubs could not reach agreement over a transfer.
"It has all been a great surprise," Belletti said. "Just yesterday I talked with Chelsea. We reached an agreement and so did Chelsea and Barcelona with no problem."
Belletti played for Cruzeiro, Sao Paulo, Atletico Mineiro and Villarreal before joining Barcelona in 2004.
He was a 71st-minute substitute in the 2006 Champions League final against Arsenal at Stade de France and scored his first goal for Barcelona 10 minutes later, taking a pass from Henrik Larsson on the right of the penalty area and shooting past substitute goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.
Belletti will compete with the more defensive Paulo Ferreira and Glen Johnson for a place in the team.
Manager Jose Mourinho fielded midfielder Michael Essien at right back in Sunday's 1-1 draw at Liverpool.
Topics mentioned in this article
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