Blues beat deadline for Pandiani
Tuesday, February 1, 2005
Article summary
Striker Walter Pandiani was a last-minute arrival at Birmingham City FC on loan from RC Deportivo La Coruña.
Article body
'Very good striker'
The 28-year-old was keen to leave Deportivo after falling out with coach Javier Irureta and had been close to joining ACF Fiorentina in Italy. When that deal broke down, Birmingham moved in and received international clearance for the transfer this morning. "This is a big name and a big player in Spain. He's a very, very good striker," said Birmingham manager Steve Bruce.
No option to sign
According to Deportivo, Birmingham have paid an undisclosed fee for the player's services until the summer and will play two friendly matches against the Primera División side. However, while Bruce described the deal as "a loan with a view to a possible permanent transfer", Deportivo claim the Premiership club have no option to sign Pandiani.
Career path
Pandiani has been a Deportivo player since 1999, although the intervening six years have brought loan spells at CA Peñarol - the club he left to join Depor - and RCD Mallorca. He scored 14 goals in 28 Primera División matches last season and another six in the UEFA Champions League. This season he had scored six league goals in Spain.