Emerson moves to Atlético

Brazilian international Emerson has joined Club Atlético de Madrid from RC Deportivo La Coruña in a €6.5m deal that also involves Atlético player Jesús Muñoz Calonge moving in the opposite direction.

Fifth signing
The 30-year-old Emerson, who has agreed a three-year contract, is Atlético's fifth signing since they won promotion back to the Primera División at the end of last season, joing other new additions Javi Moreno, signed from from Milan AC, Argentinian international Fabrizio Coloccini from Deportivo Alavés, Sergi Barjuan from FC Barcelona and defender Pinola.

Failed attempts
Atlético had also tried, and failed, to land the  S.S. Lazio midfield player Diego Simeone and Real Zaragoza’s Roberto Acuña.

Juninho's recommendation
Emerson had also attracted interest from a number of other clubs including Real Betis Balompié and Málaga CF, but the recommendation of Atlético’s Brazilian international Juninho Paulista, who played with Emerson at Middlesbrough FC in the English FA Premiership, made the difference, convincing Atlético to outbid the opposition.

Spanish moves
Emerson first moved to Spain in 1997 when he switched from Middlesbrough to CD Tenerife. Before his spell in England he played in Portugal with CF Os Belenenses (1992-94) and FC Porto (1994-96) in Portugal. He had been at Deportivo since 2000, playing 40 first division matches and 17 in the UEFA Champions League.