Sunday, August 29, 2010

Liverpool sign Portuguese star Raul Meireles


Raul Meireles has insisted he is not a Javier Mascherano clone after completing his move to Liverpool.

Meireles has joined Roy Hodgson's side for 14 million euros (£11.5 million), the Premier League club announced on their official website.

Portugal international Meireles has signed a four-year contract and will add weight to a Reds midfield which was looking short on numbers following the departures of Mascherano and Alberto Aquilani.

And, quoted in the Sunday Express, he said: ''Roy Hodgson was key to me coming here because he worked so hard to sign me. I am Meireles and not Mascherano and that will be clear to the fans. I hope one day the Liverpool fans will remember me for being successful.''

Meireles has won four titles with Porto and been capped 38 times by Portugal, playing in all four of his country's games at this summer's World Cup.

Liverpool on Friday agreed a deal to send Mascherano to Barcelona after the midfielder, whose family could not settle on Merseyside, was reportedly unprepared to play for the club.

Aquilani also departed for Juventus in a loan deal which brought to an end, at least temporarily, an underwhelming and injury-hit spell in the city in which he failed adequately to replace Xabi Alonso.

With Liverpool financially constrained as owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks attempt to sell the club, fans have had to make do with limited arrivals this summer - Christian Poulsen from Juventus and Joe Cole on a free transfer from Chelsea being the headline names.

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