PAOK pounce for Natcho from Rubin
Thursday, January 30, 2014
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Israel midfielder Bebras Natcho, who assisted more goals than anyone else in the group stage, has joined PAOK FC from fellow round of 32 contenders FC Rubin Kazan.
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Israel midfielder Bebras Natcho has joined PAOK FC after the expiration of his contract with fellow UEFA Europa League contenders FC Rubin Kazan.
Natcho leaves Rubin after nearly four years in Russia, having moved from Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC in early 2010. He has since made 104 Russian Premier League appearances and scored 21 goals. Though Natcho has found the net only once in the top flight this term, the 25-year-old has excelled in the UEFA Europa League, scoring three times and assisting on five occasions – more than any other player in the group stage.
On Thursday, PAOK signed another player from the Russian Premier League as FC Spartak Moskva centre-back Juan Insaurralde joined on loan until the end of the season. The 29-year-old Insaurralde has two Argentina caps to his name and had been in Moscow since summer 2012.
PAOK will play SL Benfica in the round of 32, with the first leg in Salonika on 20 February and the away return scheduled for the following Thursday. Rubin will take on Real Betis Balompié next month.