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Espanyol Capture Of Shunsuke Nakamura 'More Important Than Kaka' - Daniel Sanchez Llibre

The Espanyol supremo believes that the transfer of the Japanese star will be as fruitful as the Brazilian's move to Madrid...

Jul 5, 2009 6:07:54 PM

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Sanchez Llibre, Espanyol (Marca)

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Espanyol President Daniel Sanchez Llibre has hailed the signing of Japanese international Shunsuke Nakamura as more important to his club than Kaka could prove to be for Real Madrid.

Nakamura joined after his contract with Scottish Premier League side Celtic expired, and although he was expected to return to his homeland, Espanyol swooped to bring the player to La Liga.

Llibre believes that the huge Japanese following that Nakamura brings will be worth vast sums to the club in revenue, and Marca reports that he said, “For me [Shunsuke] Nakamura will prove to be more important to us than Kaka or Cristiano Ronaldo are to Real Madrid.

“This is best for Espanyol. Nakamura, along with [Joan] Verdu and Ben Sahar, will provide many shirt sales for Espanyol.”

In addition to this, Llibre discussed the purchase of Argentinean Ivan Pillud, who is expected to arrive this week from Newell’s Old Boys. The 23-year old operates at full-back and will become Los Periquitos fourth summer signing.

“In the next few hours we hope to make official the signing of an Argentine player, who has similar characteristics to [Manchester City defender] Pablo Zabaleta.

“It is not signed yet, but we hope to soon have an agreement with the player.”

Paul Macdonald, Goal.com