Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu has confirmed Ciprian Marica will join Stuttgart.
Shakhtar Donetsk coach Mircea Lucescu has confirmed Ciprian Marica will be joining Stuttgart.The Bundesliga champions have been hoping to conclude a deal for the Romanian striker, who has also been linked with Derby County and Manchester City.
Marica is now likely to sign a four-year contract with Stuttgart after his compatriot, and current coach, Lucescu admitted the move will be good for the player.
"I insisted on his transfer because it's the right time," Lucescu told Romanian newspaper Prosport.
"It will be good for him, because he can improve, he is going to play in the Champions League and he can get some experience that will be useful for him in the national team."
Amid rumours of interest from the Premier League, Lucescu commented: "The player wanted to go to the Bundesliga."
Meanwhile, Mario Gomez has signed a new contract to extend his association with Stuttgart by a further 12 months.
Gomez, who has been courted by Juventus, has spent his entire career with Stuttgart and is now tied to the club until 2012.
