MADRID: Belarus midfielder Alexander Hleb has left Arsenal to become Barcelona’s fifth off-season acquisition.
Barcelona paid the Premier League club 15mil euros (US$23.7mil) for the playmaker, who passed a routine medical on Wednesday before signing a four-year contract with the Spanish club.
Barcelona could pay another 2mil euros (US$3.2mil) to the Gunners in performance fees.
The 27-year-old Hleb, whose buy-out clause is 90mil euros (US$142mil), scored 10 goals for Arsenal after joining from VfB Stuttgart in 2005.
“I spoke with (coach Pep) Guardiola and it’s very important that he wants me, and I’ll give my best to this team to win everything with Barcelona,” Hleb told the Spanish club’s website. “It’s a dream. I love this team.”
Hleb’s acquisition increased Barcelona’s summer spending to nearly 80mil euros (US$127mil) adding to the purchases of Gerard Pique from Manchester United, midfielder Seydou Keita and wingback Daniel Alves from Sevilla, and centreback Martin Caceres from Villarreal.
They have managed to sell midfielders Ronaldinho and Deco and fullback Gianluca Zambortta for a combined 40mil euros (US$63mil). – AP
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