Espanyol make it four with Boghossian

RCD Espanyol have made their fourth purchase of the close season by signing Alain Boghossian on a free transfer after the expiry of his contract with Parma AC.

Two-year contract
Boghossian, an unused member of France's 23-man 2002 FIFA World Cup party, has signed a two-year contract and joins fellow new recruits Maximiliano Rodríguez (from CA Newell's Old Boys), Fredson Cámara (CA Paranaense), Xavi Roca (Villarreal CF) at the Olímpico de Barcelona stadium.

A 'serious club'

'New motivations'

Midfield void
The Dinges-born Boghossian has been signed to fill the midfield position vacated by Paulo Sousa's premature retirement from the game. Boghossian, 31, reportedly turned down offers from London club Fulham FC and Torino Calcio in Italy in order to try his hand in Spain's Primera División for the first time.

Started at Marseille
An apprentice who signed professional terms with Olympique de Marseille, Boghossian left southern France for Serie A and SSC Napoli in 1994. After three successful season in Naples, he spent the 1997/98 campaign with Sampdoria UC prior to his move to Parma, with whom he won the 1999 UEFA Cup and two Coppa Italias.

World Cup winner
Boghossian appeared in the 1998 World Cup final in Paris as a second-half substitute for Christian Karembeu, but failed to make Roger Lemerre's final party which won the UEFA European Championship two years' later.