Football news - Newcastle United sign Miguel Almiron in club record £21m deal
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ByEurosport
Updated 31/01/2019 at 14:57 GMT
Newcastle United have smashed their transfer record by signing Paraguay attacker Miguel Almiron from Major League Soccer side Atlanta United in a £21m deal.
New signing Miguel Almiron poses for photos holding a named and numbered shirt at St.James' Park on January 30, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Image credit: Eurosport
Newcastle's fee breaks the current transfer record of £16 million that was paid to Real Madrid for striker Michael Owen in 2005 after the 24-year-old passed his medical.
Newcastle have also signed left back Antonio Barreca from Monaco on loan until the end of the season with the option to buy.
Almiron, who has earned 12 caps for his country, scored 13 goals last season as Atlanta won the MLS Cup for the first time.
"I’m very happy and eager to start and to meet my new team mates," said Almiron. "The league is very competitive, this is a historic club, and Rafa Benitez himself were the main reasons why I am here now.
I think it is a great responsibility, something beautiful for me, and I will try to offer the best I can to repay the trust the club put in me.
Following a remarkable 2-1 Premier League win over Manchester City on Tuesday, Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez said the club will look to complete "some business" before Thursday's deadline.
"We were following Miguel Almirón for a while, and we saw a player with some pace in attack, who can play behind the striker. We have someone who can score goals and give assists," said Benitez.
"We know that MLS is a different challenge to the Premier League but he has the potential to do what we are expecting, and what we need.
From talking to the lad, you can tell that he is really focussed and wants to do well. He wants to be successful and he wants to help the team, to score goals and give assists if it is possible.
"His impact in MLS has been really good - he's been one of the best players this year - and hopefully he can give us more competition and more quality in the final third.
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Antonio Barreca (R) poses for a photograph with Newcastle United Manager Rafael Benitez (L) at the Newcastle United Training Centre on January 30, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.
Image credit: Eurosport
"I am pleased that the hard work behind the scenes has ended positively and I thank everyone for their efforts."
The victory over City has lifted Newcastle up to 14th in the league standings, five points clear of the relegation zone.
"I am happy to be here. I have accepted this challenge with a great deal of enthusiasm and I can't wait to start," said Barreca in a statement.
Barreca came through the ranks at Italian side Torino where he became an established starter before heading to the French Ligue 1 with Monaco last summer.
"The left back/left wing back position is one we've been looking to strengthen for a while and he's an Italy under-21 international who we know has quality, good delivery and is good going forward," said Benitez.
"Now we must see how quickly he can adapt, but we will try to help him and if he can give us more competition in this area, and more quality in the final third with his deliveries, the only thing I can see is a positive."
Newcastle, who are 14th in the league, visit Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
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