Saviola finds new home at Olympiacos

Olympiacos FC have announced the signing of Javier Saviola on a free transfer from Málaga CF. The well-travelled Argentinian forward was greeted by 2,500 Olympiacos fans as he arrived in Piraeus on Wednesday to sign a two-year contract with the Greek champions.

"I wish to thank the fans for their warm welcome," said Saviola, 31, who will give Olympiacos coach Míchel an experienced option in attack. "I am happy to join Olympiacos and am looking forward to meeting my new team-mates and starting training with the team."

Greece is the fourth European country in which Saviola will have played since leaving CA River Plate in his home country to join FC Barcelona in 2001. He has also had spells at Sevilla FC – where he won the 2006 UEFA Cup – and Real Madrid CF in Spain, as well as AS Monaco FC in France and SL Benfica in Portugal.

At Málaga last term the one-time South American Footballer of the Year made six UEFA Champions League appearances, scoring once, along with 27 outings in the Spanish Liga where he found the net eight times.

Incidentally, it was in Greece in 2004 that Saviola won an Olympic gold medal with Argentina. During that competition he actually got to play at the redeveloped Georgios Karaiskakis stadium – home of his new employers – before Olympiacos did.