Fiorentina sign Rodriguez, Valero

Fiorentina have signed defender Gonzalo Rodriguez from Villarreal, subject to the player agreeing personal terms. The 28-year-old Argentinian centre-back will join team-mate Borja Valero, who has now passed a medical and signed a four-year contract with the Italian club, it was confirmed today. "Villarreal and Fiorentina have reached an agreement for the transfer of Argentinian defender Gonzalo Rodriguez, who will play next season with the Italian club," said Villarreal on their website, www.villarrealcf.en. "Midfielder Borja Valero has successfully passed the medical examination and signed his contract with the Tuscan club, so he is officially a Fiorentina player too." Rodriguez started his career with San Lorenzo before joining Villarreal in the summer of 2004 and going on to make 246 appearances for the club. The 27-year-old Spaniard Valero, who started his career at Real Madrid, joined in the 2010/11 season from West Bromwich Albion. Rodriguez, who has made seven international appearances said: "Everything went very fast and my signing with Fiorentina was closed in no time, but Villarreal is my home and I want to say goodbye as it deserves. There were eight precious years in which I have experienced many things in this club, so I promise to return next week to say goodbye." From : Fifa