Tuesday 28 July 2009

Ibrahimovic seals Barca move

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a five-year contract with Barcelona to complete his transfer from Internazionale.

he swap deal sends Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o, valued at 20 million euros (£17.2m), to Inter and is worth more than 66 million euros (£57m).

Barca also said in a statement they were paying a separate 46 million euro (£39.7m) fee and loaning Belarus midfielder Aleksandr Hleb to Inter for the season.

The Italian side will have the chance to buy Hleb for 10 million euros (£8.6m) plus variables next year.

Ibrahimovic passed a medical earlier in the day, though Barca said the Swede had fractured a bone in his left hand during Inter's recent friendly against Chelsea, and that treatment would be necessary.

He will be presented to Barca fans at the Nou Camp with his number nine shirt, later on Monday.

Eto'o flew to Milan earlier in the day and has passed the first of a two-part medical, Inter said.

Eto'o told the Inter website: "I made history at Barcelona, but that history is finished now. A new story begins at Inter, I'm starting from scratch, I want a new adventure and I hope everything goes well."

Ibrahimovic could make his first appearance as a Barca player against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday in the opening match of their tour to the United States.

He is a straight swap for Eto'o in the centre of Barca's three-pronged attack, between Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi, and will be out to help them defend their European, and domestic league and cup titles.

He is Barca's third close-season signing behind Brazilian left back Maxwell, and Brazilian striker Keirrison, though the latter is to be sent out on loan.

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