Joaquin pens massive Betis deal
Real Betis star Joaquin has finally signed a new contract and has tied himself to the club until 2010.
As skysports.com reported last week, Betis had offered the massive seven-year contract to the Manchester United target, and now he has signed the deal.
The 22-year-old midfielder is rated by many as the best young player in Spain and had been tipped to move on from Sevilla.
However, he has pledged his future to Betis and extended his contract by four years after his father and agent concluded talks with supremo Manuel Ruiz de Lopera.
"Finally a dream has been fulfilled," said a delighted Joaquin.
"Me and my family are very happy, I know what I can do and what I am worth and for that reason I am of value to the president and I am very happy because he has given me what was asked - more or less."
Lopera confirmed that Joaquin is now the highest paid player at Betis, eclipsing the ‚é¼3 million-per-year that Denilson earns.
"I am going to celebrate now with the world, my family and my friends and we can now look to Sunday to see if we can do something important in the derby against Seville," added the Spanish international.
Joaquin admitted that clubs like United, Roma and Real Madrid - who had been interested - are now unlikely to follow him after he signed his huge deal.
"I don't know if other clubs will be interested in me now, but it is not interesting to me because I have signed for Betis," he said.
"I am happy here and that is why I signed, I want to work to win things at Betis."
The player's release clause remains at ‚é¼60 million.
