Hamburg - Brazil's Ze Roberto has joined SV Hamburg
on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, the club confirmed Friday.
Coach Bruno Labbadio said the Bundesliga club was also planning to
sign Arminia Bielefeld midfielder Robert Tesche pending a medical
test.
Ze Roberto will join the Hamburg squad at a training camp in
Laengefeld, Austria on Monday, his 35th birthday.
He has signed a two-year contract at the Bundesliga club and will
wear the number eight shirt, the club said.
'He is a technically gifted player with vast experience,' said
Labbadia who has succeeded Dutchman Martin Jol.
'Ze has proven his class at both club and international level for
many years.'
Ze Roberto played 282 games for Bayern, winning four Bundesliga
titles, and has played 84 times for Brazil.
He had wanted to remain at Bayern on a two-year deal but the club
was prepared to offer only a one-year extension.
Labbadia said it was hoped to sign 22-year-old Lesche on a
three-year contract. The coach also hopes striker Paolo Guerrero will
put pen to paper on a new contract.
The Peru international has been holding out for a wage increase,
and would like to be earning something similar to the 3.5 million
euros (4.9 million dollars) a year reportedly negotiated by Ze
Roberto.
The Hamburg squad met up for performance tests on Friday and will
resume training on Saturday for the new league season beginning
August 7. Hamburg will, however, be in competitive action before that
with a Europa League fixture on July 30.
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