‘Villa can replace Falcao’

Atletico Madrid President Enrique Cerezo has enthused at his club’s capture of David Villa from Barcelona.

Los Colchoneros were yesterday confirmed as having picked up the 31-year-old striker in a surprise cut-price €5.1m deal.

“We have wanted David Villa since he went to Valencia, we are very pleased with his signing,” Cerezo reflected on RNE Radiogaceta.

“We are pleased because many Spanish and foreign teams wanted Villa.

“I believe that the fans are going crazy because they thought he was going to go to a major English team. The price that he cost us is much less.

“[Radamel] Falcao will be missed, because it is not easy to match a player of his quality, but we think that Villa can replace him very well.

“Villa has many football seasons left. He is a natural goalscorer. Everyone hopes for him because he is an important member of the Spanish national team. We hope he will score many gaols.

“Negredo? He is a player who is not here. The No 9 for Atletico is Villa and the rest is history.

“Will we get Diego Ribas? This signing, today, is impossible.”

Tags Cerezo Falcao Villa
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