Barca close on Ukraine ace

Chygrynskiy deal close

Last updated: 27th August 2009  

Barca close on Ukraine ace

Chygrynskiy: On his way

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Barcelona are closing in on the capture of Ukrainian defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy.

The Shakhtar Donetsk stopper has been tracked by Barca for much of the summer, and now, just days before the two clubs meet in the Uefa Super Cup final, a deal is set to be done.

The 22-year-old was a lynch-pin in the Shakhtar side that won the Uefa Cup last season, whilst he is a regular for Ukraine with 18 caps.

Barca have struck a €25million deal and have offered him a five-year deal at the Camp Nou.

Sporting director Txiki Begiristain has confirmed the deal is close to being finalised but it will not happen until after Friday's showpiece in Monaco.

"It's still not closed and we will leave it until after the final," he told the club's official website.

"I think that it's on the right track and I don't think there will be any problems, but for sporting reasons we will not close anything until after Friday's game.

"Both Pep (Barca coach Guardiola) and the club have been keen to sign a centre-back with certain characteristics. Chygrynskiy fits this profile.

"He's dominant in the air and has good distribution. Someone of his profile is very difficult to find in the market and it's a key position for us."

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