Mista delight at Atletico deal

Mista has ended his unhappy spell with Valencia by joining Atletico Madrid.

Mista has ended his unhappy spell with Valencia by joining Atletico Madrid, subject to a medical.

Atletico have agreed to pay ‚é¼4.2 million (£2.9 million) for the Spain cap, who has been anxious to quit Valencia.

Though the striker enjoyed a productive 2003/04 campaign with Los Che, he has found his opportunities more infrequent over the past two seasons.

The 27-year-old failed to find favour with Valencia coach Quique Sanchez Flores and is delighted to be signing for Atletico.

"It has come as a surprise, but overall an enormous joy for me to be signed by Atletico Madrid," Mista told the club's official website.

"To arrive at a club of this stature is always very important for any footballer.

"What I hope to do is to give back to Atletico all the effort that has been put in to sign me."

Mista becomes Atletico's seventh signing of the summer, with new coach Javier Aguirre looking to challenge for Europe in the coming campaign.