Michael Laudrup has found the defender he has been urgently seeking after Real Mallorca´s capture of José Manuel Flores Moreno, better known as ´Chico`, who becomes the club´s fifth new arrival following the signings of Tomer Hemed, Juan Calatayud, Pablo Cáceres and Gianni Zuiverloon.
Chico, a centre-back who can also operate in midfield, has joined the islanders on a season-long loan from Genoa, with an option to buy, and will link up with his new teammates in Oosterbeek, Holland, this weekend. Today is the press conference at the Iberostar Stadium (12:30 hours).
The Cádiz-born player, 24, began his professional career with his hometown club before loan spells at Racing Club Portuense and Barcelona B, the latter at the express wish of Barca boss Pep Guardiola. After moving to Almería in summer, 2008, he spent two seasons at the Estadio Juegos Mediterráneos and was then snapped up by Genoa for €4m before the start of last season. However, things did not go quite as he had hoped last term and he ended up appearing in just 15 games for the Italian outfit.
A Spanish Under-21 international on two occasions, Chico, who is particularly strong in the air and a threat at dead-ball situations, now completes a first-choice back four consisting of José Nunes, Iván Ramis and Martí Crespí.