Bordeaux bag Placente

Argentinian full-back seals European return

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 28th July 2008

Bordeaux bag Placente

Placente: On the move

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Diego Placente has penned a two-year contract with Ligue 1 runners-up Bordeaux.

The Argentina international opted for the French side over offers from Greece and Spain, with the lure of UEFA Champions League football and the presence of friend and compatriot Fernando Cavenaghi proving to be the deciding factors.

The 31-year-old spent last season in his homeland with San Lorenzo, but reached the Champions League final in 2002 during a five-year spell in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen.

Having left the Bundesliga outfit in 2005 he spent two years with Celta Vigo in Spain, but could do nothing to stop the club being relegated from the Primera Liga at the end of the 2006/07 campaign.

He only joined San Lorenzo in January, but always intended to secure a quick-fire return to European football.

Culture

"It was one of my wishes, I knew that sooner or later an opportunity to return to Europe would turn up," he said.

"I was in contact with Greek and Spanish clubs but when Bordeaux showed their interest I opted for that path.

"Everything was decisive in my choice. The calmness of the club, the Champions League and also the presence of Fernando whom I know very well and have played with before (at River Plate) and who gave me a lot of advice.

"Bordeaux is a good team, attractive, who had a good championship last season.

"And then I want to discover another culture, another language. French football is very physical, quite fast but it's not talked about much in Argentina. But since Fernando has been there, it's started to attract interest," added Placente, who will join his new team for training in Brittany on Monday.