Uruguayan pair make Madrid move
Friday, July 1, 2005
Article summary
Real Madrid CF have unveiled their first summer signings in Uruguay midfielders Pablo García and Carlos Diogo.
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Three-year deal
Following several weeks of negotiations between the two Primera División clubs, García has left CA Osasuna for the Santiago Bernabéu in a €4m transfer and on a four-year contract. Osasuna will also receive 24-year-old Madrid midfielder Borja Fernández as part of the deal.
Atlético old boy
The switch represents a return to the Spanish capital for the 28-year-old García, who was on Club Atlético de Madrid's books between 1998 and 2000, having arrived in Europe from his first club, Montevideo Wanderers FC.
Final defeat
He subsequently played for AC Milan and AC Venezia before landing at Osasuna during the 2002/03 campaign and going on to make 78 appearances over three seasons with the Pamplona club. García had a key role in Osasuna's run to this month's Spanish Cup final, which they lost 2-1 to Real Betis Balompié.
Rapid rise
Compatriot Diogo is a versatile 21-year-old midfielder who has made impressive progress with CA River Plate in the last year, having been recommended to the Argentinian club by former Uruguayan international Enzo Francescoli. The ex-CA Peñarol player, who has been capped eleven times by his country, will have a five-year contract with Madrid. Arrigo Sacchi, Madrid's director of football, said: "We have followed him and he is a player I like."
