Post by 7even on May 17, 2006 13:33:34 GMT
Villarreal claims Pires victory
Villarreal president Fernando Roig has claimed that the club will unveil Robert Pires as their second summer signing next week.
There has been intense speculation as to what the French midfielder's future holds as he has yet to sign a contract extension with Arsenal.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is reticent about handing the 32-year-old a two-year deal, something Villarreal have already offered him.
Pires claimed on Tuesday that he had still to make his mind up about where he would be playing his football next season, but Roig appears confident he has got his man.
Indeed, with a deal for Real Sociedad's striker Nihat Kahveci already completed, Roig is adamant Pires will be signing number two and is excited by the quality of his captures.
"Pires is a player who is going to play in the Champions League final today (Wednesday), and when that match ends he will be free of his commitments and will come to be presented at Villarreal," he stated.
"We don't have to explain the quality of the player we are talking about and believe he is on the same level as Nihat.
"Nihat is done and next week Pires will arrive, these are the first two signings by Villarreal."
Pires continues to insist that no deal has yet been agreed, but it now looks certain he will quit Highbury for Spain.
------------------------------------------------------
So then, with the possibility of it looking like he’s going to Villareal (age aside, if they didn’t want him, they wouldn’t go for him) is the likely hood of us snapping up Riquelme that more promising?
Villarreal president Fernando Roig has claimed that the club will unveil Robert Pires as their second summer signing next week.
There has been intense speculation as to what the French midfielder's future holds as he has yet to sign a contract extension with Arsenal.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is reticent about handing the 32-year-old a two-year deal, something Villarreal have already offered him.
Pires claimed on Tuesday that he had still to make his mind up about where he would be playing his football next season, but Roig appears confident he has got his man.
Indeed, with a deal for Real Sociedad's striker Nihat Kahveci already completed, Roig is adamant Pires will be signing number two and is excited by the quality of his captures.
"Pires is a player who is going to play in the Champions League final today (Wednesday), and when that match ends he will be free of his commitments and will come to be presented at Villarreal," he stated.
"We don't have to explain the quality of the player we are talking about and believe he is on the same level as Nihat.
"Nihat is done and next week Pires will arrive, these are the first two signings by Villarreal."
Pires continues to insist that no deal has yet been agreed, but it now looks certain he will quit Highbury for Spain.
------------------------------------------------------
So then, with the possibility of it looking like he’s going to Villareal (age aside, if they didn’t want him, they wouldn’t go for him) is the likely hood of us snapping up Riquelme that more promising?