Malaga have signed the former Madrid and Barcelona member, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Javier-Saviola-c18090, on a one-year contract.
The 30-year-old experienced striker has negotiated his release from previous owners, Benfica, and passed his medical for Malaga.
The Argentine national has the most impressive and extensive football career. Starting off at home in Argentina, Saviola scored 45 goals in 86 appearances for his club, Atletico http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/River-Plate-c40368.
In 2001, the much-interested Barcelona bought him for £15 million. At the time the Argentine was only 19 years old.
While playing for http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604, Saviola appeared in 123 matches and scored 49 goals, and even ended his first season as the third-highest scorer of the league.
After two years Saviola was loaned to Monaco, where he played 29 matches and scored in 7 of them. The year after, Saviola was loaned to Sevilla where he again played 29 matches, in which he scored 9 goals.
The next year, while playing for Real Madrid, Saviola went through a rough patch, being played more or less only in cup matches. Saviola ended up with 5 goals in 28 overall appearances.
The Argentine was then sold to Benfica where his career took off again. He scored 24 goals in 69 matches. He’s also been a member of the winning team for the Portuguese league cup for three years running.
His international career is just as impressive as his club career. He was a member of the Argentine U-20 team for the FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Argentina. He helped Argentina win the tournament, and was also voted as the Player of the Tournament.
He played in the 2004 Olympic Games, and again helped http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Argentina-c2841 win the gold. His performance in the 2006 World Cup was also noted when he scored against Cote d’Ivoire.
However, in 2009 Saviola retired from international football, stating that he wanted to concentrate on his club career.
Saviola also ended up being the youngest player to Pele’s FIFA 100.
With Malaga in the Champions League, they need experienced players such as Saviola in the team.
As a result, it seems like the choice made was a good one, and with their other new signing, Santa Cruz, Malaga may prove themselves as a formidable force.
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