Kezman to join Spanish giants
2005-06-29 11:55
Madrid, Spain - Serbia-Montenegro striker Mateja Kezman will join Atletico Madrid from Chelsea on a three-year contract.
"Agreement is total between Atletico, player and Chelsea," the Spanish club's president Enrique Cerezo said.
Kezman, who arrived in Madrid earlier in the day with his agent to discuss terms, is expected to undergo a routine medical on Wednesday.
Cerezo added that the striker had a few details to finalize with the English champion.
Atletico finished 11th in Spain's 20-team championship, and scored just 40 goals in 38 league games.
Three weeks ago, it fired coach Cesar Ferrando and replaced him with former Boca Juniors coach Carlos Bianchi.
"Kezman ... is coming here to score goals which is what we lacked last season. With (captain) Fernando Torres he could form a very good attack," Cerezo was quoted as saying by news agency Efe.
Kezman is Atletico's first new player since the season ended.
He joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven a year ago but didn't make a major contribution to the club's first league title in 50 years.
The 26-year-old striker scored just four league goals in 24 appearances.
Kezman's difficulties continued when he was dropped from the Serbia-Montenegro squad for the World Cup qualifier against Belgium this month.
Kezman made his name with Partizan Belgrade before joining PSV in 2000 for a four-year spell in which he scored 105 goals.
- AP