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The midfielder of the Spanish championship confirmed yesterday (Wednesday) that they have acquired Argentine national team striker Luciano Figueroa from the Mexican top league club "Cruz Azul".
The 23-year-old Argentine, who started his career at "Rosario Central" and spent the first half of last season unsuccessfully on loan at England's "Birmingham" team, has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract with "Villarreal". Representing "Cruz Azul" in the second half of last season, the Argentine scored eleven goals.
Figeroa was acquired to fill the gap in the attack left by Brazilian Sonny Anderson, who moved to Qatar. In order to secure a spot in the starting lineup of "Villarreal", most likely the Argentine will have to compete with Jose Mari and former Manchester United striker Uruguayan Diego Forlan.
"This is a great purchase and we are very lucky," said "Villarreal" president Fernando Roig. "I hope he will arrive at the club on Monday and start training with his new teammates. I believe he will score many goals."
The Spanish press claims that "Villarreal" paid the Mexican club about three million euros (about 10.35 million litas) for the Argentine.
Figeroa became the second Argentine to join "Villarreal" this month: at the beginning of November, defender Juan Pablo Sorin signed a 3.5-year contract with the club.
Currently, "Villarreal" is in 13th place in the Spanish championship and is competing in the UEFA Cup, where they will face England's "Middlesbrough" club late tonight.
