Ujfaluši's fond farewell to Fiorentina

Czech Republic defender Tomáš Ujfaluši is to leave ACF Fiorentina on a free transfer and move to Spain's top flight.

'Precious contribution'
Twenty-four hours after Fiorentina achieved UEFA Champions League qualification by finishing fourth in Serie A, two points ahead of AC Milan, it was announced that Ujfaluši was on his way. "Yesterday Ujfaluši played his last match for the Viola," the Italian club stated. "We wish to thank him for his precious contribution over the last four years. He is an extraordinary player and, more importantly, a great man."

Impressive season
Fiorentina won 1-0 at Torino FC to claim the fourth and final UEFA Champions League ticket, at the end of a season in which Ujfaluši played 28 top-flight games. Cesare Prandelli's team also reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals, losing on penalties to Rangers FC. The 30-year-old Ujfaluši arrived at the Stadio Artemio Franchi from Hamburger SV in the summer of 2004.

EURO challenge
The former SK Sigma Olomouc man will now accept a new challenge in the Spanish Primera División, although he is yet to specify exactly where he will be playing. "I still have to decide which club, but I will certainly move to Spain," he said. Before then, the versatile defender, whose nickname is 'UFO', will land in Austria and Switzerland for his country's UEFA EURO 2008™ campaign. The Czechs face Switzerland, Portugal and Turkey in Group A.