Sevilla show confidence in Kepa
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Article summary
Sevilla FC have rewarded promising striker Kepa Blanco with a two-year contract extension which will tie him to the club until at least June 2009.
Article body
Pre-season promise
The 21-year-old has impressed for Sevilla this pre-season after being drafted in to fill the gap left by Julio Baptista's departure for Real Madrid CF. Kepa has been a regular with Sevilla's reserves for the past three seasons, made four brief senior appearances in 2004/05 and struck the winner for Spain against Turkey to take the gold medal at this summer's Mediterranean Games.
New terms
His original deal was due to expire in June 2007 but the club have decided to reward him with two more years as well as the option of a third. Kepa's buy-out fee has also increased from €18m to €30m.
Valuable player
Sevilla director of sport, Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo 'Monchi', explained: "Kepa is a player who could achieve great things at Sevilla. With this new arrangement, the club have shown yet again that they are willing to put their confidence in the youth team in concrete terms." Sevilla will discover their UEFA Cup first-round opponents on Friday and two days later begin their Primera División campaign against Real Racing Club Santander.
