Valencia capture César to fill Renan void

Valencia CF have signed goalkeeper César Sánchez until the end of the season from Tottenham Hotspur FC after losing the ever-present Renan Brito Soares for the next six weeks due to a torn thigh muscle.

Renan injury
The 37-year-old signed a one-year deal at White Hart Lane last summer but only made one substitute appearance in the English League Cup for Harry Redknapp's side and the English outfit agreed to cancel his contract by mutual consent. Valencia moved for the custodian after Renan, who had played in every Spanish Liga match this term, was ruled out for six weeks. Capped once by Spain, César played more than 200 league games for Real Valladolid CF before moving to Real Madrid CF, starting the 2002 UEFA Champions League final against Bayer 04 Leverkusen only for injury to force him off in the second half of Madrid's 2-1 victory. He also spent three seasons with Real Zaragoza before moving to London.

Trophy opportunities
"I come with the intention to compete and, primarily, to help the team in every way I can because the club has trophies within its reach this season," said César, whose new side are fourth in the Liga and face FC Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 on 18 and 26 February. Valencia vice-president Fernando Gomez added: "He is a goalkeeper who has the characteristics that we looked for. He is a Liga expert with experience, character and ambition. He comes to compete to be our first-choice goalkeeper."