Katsouranis set for move to Madrid
Costas Katsouranis is close to moving to Atletico Madrid on loan from Portuguese side Benfica, according to Spanish press reports. Spanish sports daily AS suggested yesterday that the Greek international, who has been suspended by his club in Portugal, has asked his agent to approach the club of fellow international Yiourkas Seitaridis. Katsouranis and teammate Luisao had a fight during their team’s league match with Setubal last weekend and Benfica has decided to let him go, as he does not get along with coach Jose Antonio Camacho either. Reports from Spain say he will join Atletico on a six-month loan and then the Madrid club will buy him for about 6 million euros. The agent of the 29-year-old midfielder has already made preliminary contacts with Atletico and is expected in Madrid soon to clinch the deal. Atletico is not desperate for a new signing after strengthening the squad considerably during the summer, but the likely departure of midfielder Maniche to Inter Milan will open up a spot in the team for someone like Katsouranis. Meanwhile, Olympiakos in Piraeus yesterday presented its new signings Argentinean Fernando Belluschi and Slovenian Mirnes Sisic, with the former stating he wanted to come to a European team that features in the Champions League.
