Gerard Moreno signs for Espanyol for €1.3m

Gerard Moreno signs for Espanyol for €1.3m

Espanyol president Joan Collet, said on Friday during the presentation of new striker Gerard Moreno, that the club paid Villarreal €1.3million for 50 per cent of the rights of the Catalan footballer.

Collet said they couldn't sign him completely and are obliged to sell him if they receive an offer of at least €7m. To keep him they must buy an additional 30 per cent of the player, which would put the total paid to Villarreal to €2.1m. 

Moreno was pleased to return to Espanyol, where he had played at youth level before heading to Villrreal. "To go from a ball boy to playing in the first team is the dream I have had during the last six years. I was here for six years and I consider myself a Perico. I am where I wanted to be," he said. 

Moreno added: "I hope that my new cycle at Espanyol will be as happy as the six years I spent here before. I hope to retire here." 

Villarreal were happy to let the forward go because they have completed the signing of Roberto Soldado from Tottenham Hotspurs.