United smash British record
to sign Veron
Argentina international Juan Veron has completed a British record 28.1 million pounds ($39.49 million) move from Lazio to Manchester United, the English premier league club said on Thursday.
Veron has signed a five-year contract with United but he will have to wait for his work permit before making his debut for the English champions.
The 26-year-old, who began his career at Estudiantes de La Plata before a spell alongside Diego Maradona at Boca Juniors, is the most expensive player in British football history.
United set the previous record in April when they bought Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy from PSV Eindhoven for 19 million pounds ($26.74 million).
United spokesman Patrick Harverson said the club were planning to unveil Veron at a news conference at Old Trafford at 1430GMT on Thursday.
Veron spent two years at Lazio, helping them win the Serie A title in 2000.
The end of his spell in Rome was dominated by the fake passport scandal in which Veron was accused of obtaining an Italian passport under false pretences.
But he was cleared at an Italian Football League disciplinary hearing last month, paving the way for United to move in.
On July 5, Lazio said they had agreed to sell Veron to United. He travelled from holiday in Argentina to England on Wednesday to undergo a medical, before United completed the formalities of his transfer on Thursday morning.
Veron has won 41 caps for Argentina and in helping his country reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup in France in 1998, he was lauded as one of the best players in the world.
He brings that reputation to Old Trafford, but Veron will have to compete for a place in United's midfield with Roy Keane, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt.
