Hercules 'adventure' for Trezeguet

David Trezeguet admits he could not resist the 'adventure' of playing in the Primera Liga before hanging up his boots.

The Frenchman joined newly promoted Hercules on Saturday and will link up with his new team-mates for the first time on Tuesday before being presented by the club.

Trezeguet spent ten successful years with Italian giants Juventus, for whom he scored 171 goals, becoming the highest scoring import in the club's history.

At 32, the former France striker waved an emotional farewell to the Old Lady and immediately agreed terms with Hercules, and Trezeguet is looking forward to the challenge.

"I wanted to know the Spanish League, for me it was an important objective in my career," Trezeguet told local radio station Cope Alicante .

"I've seen a team with ambition who want to do things well. I'm very happy to be in Alicante and I'm going to complete a dream.

"After spending 10 years in a league like the Italian, having played at a club as important as Juventus, having won so many titles and being leading foreign goalscorer of the team, this for me is a new adventure."

Hercules got off to a losing start in their first top flight game in 13 years on Saturday as they were defeated 1-0 at home to Athletic Bilbao.

The upcoming international break will allow Trezeguet time to gain fitness ahead of the club's next fixture - a daunting trip to defending champions Barcelona.

Trezeguet is unsure if he will feature at the Camp Nou, but has firmly set his sights on being fit for the club's home derby with rivals Valencia the following week.

He said: "We will see if I play or not against Barcelona, but I'm sure I will against Valencia, which is a game that Alicante has been waiting for for a long time."

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Ihemelu back to old Rocky Mountain waysTrezeguet joins Hercules

Masch clinches Barca move

Midfielder Javier Mascherano has wrapped up his switch to Barcelona from Liverpool after passing a medical.

The Reds reluctantly accepted an Ј18million bid from the Catalan giants for Mascherano last week following months of speculation over his future.

The 26-year-old's desire to depart Anfield became increasingly apparent over the summer, and his wish was granted when his potential switch to the Spanish club was confirmed.

Mascherano, who arrived on Merseyside from West Ham three years ago, underwent separate tests at the Hospital de Barcelona and at Camp Nou earlier on Monday, earning the thumbs up from the club's medical team on the eve of the transfer deadline.

"It was an exhaustive medical that lasted around five hours. He is in excellent condition and is physically great," club doctor Ricard Pruna told Barca TV .

"His cardiovascular level is perfect and he is a player who has had very few injuries. In the last five years he has suffered one injury that has left him with problems."

The holding midfield ace is now set to be officially unveiled later this week after putting pen to paper on a four-year deal.

He will replace Yaya Toure in the Primera Liga champions' line-up after the Ivorian departed Barca for Manchester City this summer.

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Hercules secure Drenthe deal

Real Madrid have let Royston Drenthe join Hercules Alicante on a season-long loan deal.

The left-sided Dutch player was free to leave Real after being told he did not feature in Jose Mourinho's first-team plans.

The 23-year-old is thought to have rejected a move to Monaco while Fulham were also linked with the former Feyenoord man, who joined Real after being named player of the Under-21 European Championship in 2007.

But newly-promoted Primera Liga side Hercules have secured Drenthe's services until the end of the season.

Drenthe has been a bit-part player since his arrival at the Bernabeu in 2007 and made only 10 appearances last season, including just three league starts.

The Drenthe deal comes hot on the heels of the permanent signings of French star David Trezeguet and Paraguay striker Nelson Valdez this summer.

The ambitious Alicante outfit are eager to secure their Primera Liga status as they prepare for just their second top-flight campaign in 24 years and their first since being relegated in 1996/97.

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