Post by Golden_Boy™ on Aug 4, 2008 12:47:00 GMT -1
SPANISH STARLET SIGNS
Posted on: Mon 04 Aug 2008
Queens Park Rangers Football Club have agreed a deal with Real Madrid for highly-rated midfield ace Daniel Parejo Munoz.
Rangers have beaten off stiff competition from a number of Europe's top Clubs - including Arsenal, Deportivo La Coruna, Espanyol, Getafe and Villarreal - for the young starlet, who made his name playing for Madrid's nursery Club Castilla last season.
QPR Chairman, Flavio Briatore, said: "This is an incredible coup for Queens Park Rangers Football Club.
"We are delighted to have agreed a deal to sign arguably the hottest prospect in European football.
"I am eternally gratefully to Ramon Calderon (Real Madrid President) for giving QPR the opportunity to sign such a talented young player.
"Daniel is a great, young talent and we are looking forward to welcoming him to the QPR family."
Currently rated as the best youth player in Madrid's set-up by the legendary Alfredo di Stefano, the 19 year-old made 33 appearances for Castilla in the 2007/08 season, scoring ten goals.
He also featured for Madrid in this weekend's Emirates Cup, where his 85th minute header clinched a 2-1 victory for the Spaniards against Hamburg.
Parejo said: "I am very happy to be coming to London to play for Queens Park Rangers.
"When Madrid informed me I could come here on loan, I - and my family - were very excited.
"I had a very nice meeting with Mr Briatore and he has great ambitions for this Club."
Parejo emerged as a possible target for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger after he sent scouts to check on the youth international during last year's Under-19 European Championships, but Rangers have stolen a march on the North London giants to clinch the teenager's signature, to the delight of R's boss, Iain Dowie.
Dowie said: "Daniel is a special talent and I am delighted that we've been able to add him to our ever-improving squad.
"It's an incredibly exciting signing for the Football Club - a real coup.
"It shows the benefit of having Flavio Briatore's contacts and we're indebted to him and his relationship with Ramon Calderon that we've managed to bring in one of the brightest youngest prospects in Spain.
"He's one of the stars of their academy. He gets it and gives it and is the link man we've been looking for.
"He's comfortable on the ball, has great technique and is deadly from set-pieces.
"To get in any Real Madrid starting XI, you've got to be a very good player and I've got no doubts whatsoever that he'll prove to be a very good addition to our squad."
Arguably Spain's brightest prospect, Parejo inspired his nation to win the Under-19 European Championships last summer.
A technically gifted midfielder with pace and skill in abundance, Parejo has been earmarked by the Spanish giants as the next product off their impressive academy production line, following in the footsteps of international trio Raul, Iker Casillas and Guti.
From the Q.P.R. O/S.
Think I'll be making a change to my FF team then!
