Western Sydney Wanderers have signed a former teammate of Lionel Messi, with La Liga striker Oriol Riera on a marquee deal for the next two Hyundai A-League seasons.
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The 31-year-old heads to ‘Wanderland’ from La Liga outfit Deportivo de La Coruña, having spent last season on-loan at fellow Spanish side Osasuna.
Riera scored four goals in La Liga last season, including a superb header against eventual champions Real Madrid.
“We are very excited to have a player of Oriol’s calibre join us for the next two seasons,” Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas said.
“Oriol has an exceptional pedigree and will no doubt enhance our playing strength and provides us with a great platform to be serious contenders at the business end of the season.”
Riera came through Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy and is a former teammate of the likes of Messi, Gerrard Piqué and Cesc Fàbregas.
He’s exceptional in the air and will provide a real physical presence to Western Sydney’s attack.
Riera is due to arrive in Sydney later this week and will immediately commence training with the club and could make his first appearance in the friendly against EPL side Arsenal on July 15.
Wanderers Hyundai A-League 2017/18 squad:
Goalkeepers: John Hall (Injury Replacement Player), Vedran Janjetovic, Jerrad Tyson
Defenders: Jonathan Aspropotamitis, Keanu Baccus, Aritz Borda, Jack Clisby, Robert Cornthwaite, Brendan Hamill, Josh Risdon, Michael Thwaite
Midfielders: Kearyn Baccus, Roly Bonevacia, Steven Lustica, Jacob Melling
Attackers: Jumpei Kusukami, Oriol Riera, Brendon Santalab, Lachlan Scott, Jaushua Sotirio
