Post by Natty on Jun 30, 2008 18:14:16 GMT -1
Chelsea have signed Portugal midfielder Deco from Spanish giants Barcelona for a fee of about £8m.
The 30-year-old was recently told by Barca's new coach Pep Guardiola that he did not feature in their future plans.
"It is good for me to be here and first of all I am very happy to be here," Deco told Chelsea's official website.
Deco becomes the Blues' first signing since Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was appointed manager earlier this month.
However, his signing is Chelsea's second of the summer after international team-mate Jose Bosingwa.
Brazil-born Deco joined Barcelona from Porto in 2004 after helping the Portuguese side win the Uefa Cup, Champions League and domestic league titles under former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
He won two league championships with the Catalan giants, and was part of the team that beat Arsenal in the Champions League final in Paris in 2006.
However, a series of injuries hampered him during the 2007/08 season, and he made just 14 starts in Barcelona's La Liga campaign.
"I am sure I have come at the right time to do great things and be able to help Chelsea go back to the way it was and come back to being the first one, not only in England but also to win the Champions League that has been their dream for so long," added Deco.
"The Premier League is a great league and it is getting better and you can see that with the Champions League final, where you had two English teams."
Deco's arrival significantly boosts a midfield line-up already featuring the likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Jon Mikel Obi and Claude Makelele.
"It is great that we have so many great players here at Chelsea and it is great that there is the competition which is healthy for everybody and this just makes the team better.
"To have great players in any position of the club just enhances the club. I know it is a new challenge but I am looking forward to it," he added.
The 30-year-old was recently told by Barca's new coach Pep Guardiola that he did not feature in their future plans.
"It is good for me to be here and first of all I am very happy to be here," Deco told Chelsea's official website.
Deco becomes the Blues' first signing since Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was appointed manager earlier this month.
However, his signing is Chelsea's second of the summer after international team-mate Jose Bosingwa.
Brazil-born Deco joined Barcelona from Porto in 2004 after helping the Portuguese side win the Uefa Cup, Champions League and domestic league titles under former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.
He won two league championships with the Catalan giants, and was part of the team that beat Arsenal in the Champions League final in Paris in 2006.
However, a series of injuries hampered him during the 2007/08 season, and he made just 14 starts in Barcelona's La Liga campaign.
"I am sure I have come at the right time to do great things and be able to help Chelsea go back to the way it was and come back to being the first one, not only in England but also to win the Champions League that has been their dream for so long," added Deco.
"The Premier League is a great league and it is getting better and you can see that with the Champions League final, where you had two English teams."
Deco's arrival significantly boosts a midfield line-up already featuring the likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, Jon Mikel Obi and Claude Makelele.
"It is great that we have so many great players here at Chelsea and it is great that there is the competition which is healthy for everybody and this just makes the team better.
"To have great players in any position of the club just enhances the club. I know it is a new challenge but I am looking forward to it," he added.
