Paletta goes from Banfield to Anfield
Argentinian centre-back to join Liverpool in the summer
Paul Doyle
Tuesday February 14, 2006
Paletta: heading to Anfield this summer. Photograph: Aris Messins/Getty.
Liverpool today announced that Argentinan centre-back Gabriel Paletta will join the club in the summer, subject to a medical.
The defender, who turns 20 tomorrow, currently plays for Banfield in his home country and caught Rafael Benitez's eye when playing in his country's triumphant campaign in last year's U-20 World Cup.
Liverpool are reported to have beaten several Spanish and South American clubs to his signature.
Paletta's arrival will, following last month's capture of 21-year-old Daniel Agger from Brondby, mean Liverpool will have promising deputies for both Sami Hyppia and Jamie Caragher.
Banfield had said at the weekend that any deal would have to wait until the summer but Liverpool have been able to agree terms now. It is thought the club will have to pay around £2m for the player.
guardian.co.uk
