CHINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - A threat from a fan who held a gun to his knee helps to push Colombian midfielder Giovanni Moreno to China, where he is set to join Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba at Shanghai Shenhua

Record ID: 858825

  • Title: CHINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - A threat from a fan who held a gun to his knee helps to push Colombian midfielder Giovanni Moreno to China, where he is set to join Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba at Shanghai Shenhua
  • Date: 24th June 2012
  • Summary: SHANGHAI, CHINA (JUNE 23, 2012) (REUTERS) PEOPLE GATHERED AT INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS AREA AT SHANGHAI PUDONG AIRPORT ELECTRONIC BOARD SHOWING FLIGHT ARRIVALS INFORMATION COLOMBIAN MIDFIELDER GIOVANNI MORENO (WEARING CAP) WALKING OUT FROM ARRIVALS AREA MORENO WALKING PAST AND SHOWING THUMBS UP SIGN MORENO WALKING PAST AND PUSHING LUGGAGE MORENO BEING GREETED BY SHANGHAI SHENHUA STAFF MEMBERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN MIDFIELDER GIOVANNI MORENO, ASKED HOW IT FEELS TO JOIN SHANGHAI SHENHUA, SAYING: "I am happy and full of desire to be here and looking forward to my presentation." MORENO AND GROUP WALKING PAST (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COLOMBIAN MIDFIELDER GIOVANNI MORENO, ASKED WHY HE CHOSE TO JOIN A CHINESE CLUB, SAYING: "In fact for me this is a personal goal and is good to see that our team is shaping up and has a good technical staff. I am keen to start (playing) right now." MORENO AND GROUP WALKING AWAY
  • Embargoed: 9th July 2012 13:00
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  • Location: United Kingdom
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  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAE953YJSLKZEN1DWAI3ORRT3WS
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  • Story Text: Colombian midfielder Giovanni Moreno, who was threatened with a gun last month in Argentina, arrived in Shanghai, China on Saturday (June 23) expressing his joy at joining big-spending Chinese soccer club Shanghai Shenhua.
    "I am happy and full of desire to be here and looking forward to my presentation," he said.
    The club's spokesperson Ma Yue said they were close to signing a formal contract with Moreno and details would be made public on the club's official website. The club's head coach Sergio Batista had said on Thursday (June 21) he expected Moreno to join up with the club and complete formalities by the end of next week.
    "In fact for me this is a personal goal and is good to see that our team is shaping up and has a good technical staff. I am keen to start (playing) right now," Moreno said.
    A threat from a fan who held a gun to his knee helped to push Moreno away from Racing Club. The incident last month exposed the aggression of Argentina's 'barrabravas', hardcore hooligan fans who wield power over clubs and players.
    Moreno's transfer also comes during a week when Argentine officials shut down a section of River Plate's stands after a fan stabbed another to death.
    Moreno has made 15 appearances for Colombia and has scored three goals. The Colombian is set to join Shanghai Shenua's growing pool of top international talent including Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in a transfer reported to be worth $9 million.
    An attacking midfielder, Moreno spent almost two years at Racing, one of Argentina's "Big Five" teams.
    His midfield skills excited Racing fans, but his performance fell off after he damaged knee ligaments early last year and was out of action for seven months.
    Racing also struggled for form and are near the bottom of the standings in the Clausura championship whichthis weekend.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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