Saviola signs six-year deal with Barcelona
( 2001-07-18 10:18 ) ()

River Plate's 19-year-old Argentine international striker Javier Saviola has signed a six-year deal with Barcelona, the Spanish club said late on Tuesday night.

"I am very happy that the player is at last part of Barcelona football club," Saviola's representative Alfredo Cabrera told reporters.

"I now hope the player will be able to live up to a great club like Barcelona."

The teenager is reported to have joined the Catalan club for a fee of 5,500 million pesetas (US$28.14 million) and will be presented to the media on Friday.

Saviola, nicknamed the Rabbit because of his protruding teeth, was in the spotlight at the recent World Youth Cup, scoring a record 11 goals in Argentina's triumphant campaign.

He scored a hat-trick for the hosts as they beat France 3-1 to reach the semifinals. He then notched two more goals in a 5-0 demolition of neighbours Paraguay before adding one more in a 3-0 victory over Ghana in the final.

Saviola is the fifth signing by Barcelona since the end of last season.

Swedish international defender Patrik Andersson, French defender Philippe Christanval and Brazilians Fabio Rochemback and Geovanni have already been officially presented as Barcelona players.