Robert Pires signed from Marseille

This is from Marca, hot off the presses:

Real Madrid files to the French Robert Pires

Robert Pires is new player of Real Madrid. The agreement is total and the international French will play in the equipment that directs Vicente of the Forest from next the 30 of June. Pires has 27 years and in the two last seasons it has defended the t-shirt of Marseilles. The draftee of Pires is going to him to cost to the madridista organization nine million and means of dollars (1,600 million pesetas). The international Gaul will sign a contract with the Real Madrid of a duration of five seasons, but until it does not finish the Eurocopa could not be presented/displayed with Real Madrid. The French occupied a preferred place in the list of reinforcements processed by the white technical body. Aside from the specificationses that hoard, the white technicians have considered the good character and perfect the adaptation to any clothes that have demonstrated the French.
Marseilles crosses a delicate sport situation as much as economic. The enormous voltage that the French club has lived has taken him to complete a terrible season and to see itself forced to come off itself some of his values like it was the Italian Ravanelli, that let the equipment to file by the Lazio. In the case of Pires the leaders of Marseilles refused to negotiate the crossing of the French player of Spanish origin when considering him an essential player for the future sport of the equipment and by the great charisma that he has within the liking. This way, the Real one Madrid has been forced to put to pay the post of clásula that there is in his contract and that promotes to nine million and means of dollars (little more than 1,600 million pesetas), amount that will make effective in the next days.

Several supplies
The supply of the madridista organization was not the unique one on which Pires counted. The Arsenal put on the table enough more money to him than Real Madrid, but the midfield player has not doubted and he has inclined by the madridista supply. In this decision it has had to do the Spanish origin of Pires much. The mother of the future madridista player is of Oviedo, whereas his father is natural of Portugal. Before giving Real Madrid yes. Pires asked Karembeu and Anelka on the white club. The information that received were positive and is that Anelka speaks well of Real Madrid in spite of the problems that it had during the season. In addition, the presence of Pires will be one more an incentive for the continuity of the forward in the madridista equipment.
Robert Pires is midfield player although sometimes he has played in the attack end. Its good leg is the right, although it handles the left to equal level. It can play in both bands and its main quality is regate. It has good vision of game and although the goal has arrival to the opposite area is not its main argument to the hor

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BTW he can also play behind the forwards aside from a winger/forward. For $9.5M, I think he's a pretty good buy. It remains to be seen though whether he can be the playmaker we all want, or if he's to be even used as a playmeker.