Official: Villarreal sign Cristian Zapata from UdineseThe Colombia international leaves Serie A after six seasons and will ply his trade in La Liga in the 2011-12 campaign
Villarreal have completed the signing of Colombia international Cristian Zapata from Serie A side Udinese for an undisclosed fee, with the defender signing a five-year deal with his new club.The Yellow Submarine were eager to add some steel to their back line as they prepare for Champions League football, and head coach Juan Carlos Garrido has now got the defensive reinforcement he was looking for.
The 24-year-old started his professional career with Deportivo Cali and joined Udinese in the summer of 2005, where he made well over 100 official appearances for the Italian side.
Zapata's contract with Udinese ran until the summer of 2012, but the Serie A club decided to cash in on the player when he made it clear that he had no intention of signing a contract extension.
Liverpool were also believed to be in the race for Zapata's signature, but the versatile defender has now decided to move to El Madrigal instead.
Zapata is Villarreal's second signing of the summer after the previous capture of Cesar Sanchez from Valencia.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2011/07/12/2571268/official-villarreal-sign-cristian-zapata-from-udinese
