Man U complete Ricardo signing
Friday, 30 August 2002 16:37Manchester United have completed the signing of Spanish international goalkeeper Felipe Lopez Ricardo from Real Valladolid on a three-year contract in a deal worth £1.5 million.
United's first choice keeper Fabien Barthez has been struggling with a hip injury although reports today said the France number one could be back in time for the Sunderland match. Roy Carroll has been between the posts for United this season with teenager Ben Williams promoted to reserve.
30-year-old Ricardo, who was a member of the Spanish squad that travelled to the World Cup Finals, told United's official website: "As a child I followed the English league and I believe at the moment it is the best league in the world. As a footballer you always try and get to the top and be the best and I think I have arrived at one of the best clubs in the world."
United manager Alex Ferguson said: "Ricardo's got the experience we need. He's the second choice for Spain, and some people say that if he was with a bigger club he'd be in the national side. His experience and his ability to play at international level made it an easy choice really."
Filed by James Boylan.
