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Despite making a promising start to his Atletico career, Gronkjaer's season was cut short when he cracked a bone in his right leg at the start of May.
"When I signed for Atletico I had every intention of completing my contract. But the world is a strange place and things didn't go as I had hoped," he said.
Atletico moved to fill his place by signing Real Zaragoza's Argentine international winger Luciano Galletti earlier on Friday.
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Cologne sign Turkish defender Alpay
BERLIN, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Newly promoted Bundesliga side Cologne have signed fiery Turkish defender Alpay Ozalan on a one-year contract, the German second division champions said on Monday.
The former Turkey international, 32, has 86 international caps and was instrumental in Turkey's passage to the World Cup semi-finals in 2002.
However, Alpay has courted controversy in recent years and has been unable to keep his volatile temper in check.
He was fired by Japan's Urawa Reds at the end of June after picking up three red cards in seven matches, with six months remaining on his contract.
Two years ago, he clashed with David Beckham in a Euro 2004 qualifier, taunting the English captain over a missed penalty.
Alpay stuck a finger in Beckham's face as the players walked off at halftime, although he later claimed Beckham had spat on his shirt.
The incident brought an abrupt halt to his spell at English premier league side Aston Villa.
Germany's Bundesliga kicks off on Friday. Cologne host near neighbours Mainz 05 the following day.
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Argentine Samuel moves from Real to Inter
(Adds background, byline)
By Simon Evans
MILAN, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Inter Milan have signed Argentina defender Walter Samuel from Real Madrid, the Italian club said on Monday.
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Inter said in a statement on their official website the central defender had signed a four-year deal with the Serie A club.
Samuel, 27, has previously played in Italy for AS Roma where he won the Italian league in 2001.
Inter are also in negotiations to sign Real's Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo, having already brought in Argentine winger Santiago Solari from the Spanish club.
Samuel leaves Real after completing just one season of a five-year deal signed when he joined the club for a fee of 25 million euros ($30.25 million) from Roma last July.
He was brought in to strengthen the club's shaky back four, but struggled to adapt to the more open style of football in Spain and was given little support by an attack-minded midfield in the early part of the season.
His performances improved after mid-season signing Thomas Gravesen added steel to the centre of the midfield and turned in some confident displays to help Real end the campaign with their best defensive record in a decade.
However, the quietly spoken Argentine never managed to win over the Real Madrid fans and was deemed surplus to requirements by the club's coaching staff.
Samuel's departure leaves the door open to England defender Jonathan Woodgate to claim a place in the starting line-up if he can complete his recovery from a thigh injury that has kept him on the sidelines for 16 months.
At Inter, Samuel will be expected to partner tough Colombian Ivan Cordoba in the centre of defence and joins a large Argentine contingent working under coach Roberto Mancini.
As well as Solari, Inter captain and defender Javier Zanetti, midfielders Juan Sebastian Veron, Esteban Cambiasso and Kily Gonzalez and striker Julio Ricardo Cruz have all played for the Argentine national side.
Inter are aiming to join rivals AC Milan and Juventus in the title race this season after finishing third last term.
Mancini's first season in charge at the San Siro showed signs of improvement with the team winning the Italian Cup and reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League but a leaky defence cost them vital points in the fight for the 'scudetto'.
Inter have not won the Italian league since 1989.
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Nilsson quits Saints for Panathinaikos
By Barney Spender
ATHENS, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Sweden's Mikael Nilsson has joined Panathinaikos from England's Southampton, the Greek side said on Monday.
No details were given but second division Southampton, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, are expected to receive in the region of 600,000 euros ($726,000) for the international midfielder.
"I am really glad about the completion of the deal and I am looking forward to playing for Panathinaikos," the 27-year-old midfielder told the Greek club's website. "They are a great side and this is an excellent career opportunity for me."
Nilsson, who has signed a three-year contract, is recovering from a hamstring injury and is expected to be fit for Panathinaikos's third qualifying round Champions League tie against Wisla Krakow in Poland on Aug 10.
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Schalke pull out of Baros deal, but sign Larsen
BERLIN, Aug 1 (Reuters) - German Bundesliga side Schalke 04 have pulled out of a potential deal to buy Czech striker Milan Baros from Liverpool but have completed the transfer of Danish forward Soren Larsen.
Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick told German media on Saturday the German club and Baros had agreed personal terms.
However, the respective clubs could not agree a transfer fee and English Premier League side Liverpool were unwilling to loan Baros out to the Schalke, the German club said on Monday.
"The club will only sell and not loan out," said sporting director Rudi Assauer. "But it's almost impossible to agree to eight to 10 million euros. So Milan Baros will not be moving to Schalke 04."
Baros, 23, had previously said he wanted to remain at Liverpool, but manager Rafael Benitez did not select the striker for the first two qualifying rounds of the Champions League this season.
The European champion's asking price -- believed to be around nine million euros ($10.89 million) -- has been a sticking point. Aston Villa have reportedly had an earlier offer of seven million euros turned down.
"It would only work if we were guaranteed of playing in the Champions League three times in a row. But no one has such a guarantee," Assauer said.
Schalke have, however, signed Denmark striker Soren Larsen from Swedish league leaders Djurgarden.
The Bundesliga runners-up have agreed a four-year contract with the 23-year-old, who was presented with the prized number nine shirt when he signed the deal on Monday.
German media said his transfer cost Schalke around two million euros.
The German side, who have qualified for the group stage of the Champions League, are also interested in Greece defender Sotiris Kyrgiakos.
The 26-year-old is currently on loan from Panathanaikos to Scottish side Rangers.
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Goalkeeper Prunea joins National Bucharest
BUCHAREST, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Goalkeeper Florin Prunea signed a two-year contract with Romanian first division team National Bucharest on Tuesday.
"My deal with National is now valid and I can play in the first championship home match against FCM Bacau this weekend," Prunea, who left Greek club Xanthi, told Reuters.
Prunea, who turns 37 next week, played 40 internationals for Romania and helped the team to reach the 1994 World Cup quarter-finals.
He also played for other Romanian clubs, including Dinamo Bucharest.
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Wigan agree fee with Wolves for Senegal striker Camara
LONDON, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Premier League Wigan Athletic have agreed an undisclosed fee with Wolverhampton Wanderers for Senegal international striker Henri Camara.
"Wolves have this morning confirmed that they have accepted an offer from newly-promoted Wigan Athletic for striker Henri Camara," the English second division club said on their website.
The 28-year-old has not played for Wolves since their relegation from the top flight in 2004 and spent last season on loan, first at Scottish side Celtic and then back in the Premier League with Southampton.
Wigan, promoted last season, host English champions Chelsea in their first match at the top level of English football on August 14.
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Alkmaar defender Kromkamp to sign for Villarreal
MADRID, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Dutch international defender Jan Kromkamp has reached an agreement to join Villarreal, the Primera Liga club said on Tuesday.
Villarreal said that the 24-year-old right back, who has played for AZ Alkmaar since 2000, would sign a contract for four or five years with the club.
According to Spanish media reports, Villarreal are expected to pay around six million euros ($7.26 million) for the defender.
Kromkamp played an instrumental role in the Dutch side's run to the semi-finals of last season's UEFA Cup and gave an impressive display against Villarreal when they knocked the Spaniards out in the quarter-finals.
As well as Kromkamp, Villarreal have also signed Italian midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi, Argentine goalkeeper Mariano Barbosa and Ecuador midfielder Antonio Valencia to strengthen their squad in the close season.
The club are preparing for a difficult tie against Everton in the third qualifying round of the Champions League after finishing in a best ever third place in the Primera Liga last season.
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Wilfried Dalmat follows brother Stephane to Racing
MADRID, Aug 2 (Reuters) - French midfielder Wilfried Dalmat will play alongside his brother Stephane at Racing Santander next season after signing a one-year deal with the Primera Liga side on Tuesday.
The club said that the 23-year-old, who played for Grenoble last season, had impressed the coaching staff while training with the club and they had decided to offer him a contract for the forthcoming campaign.
Before joining Grenoble the former France Under-21 international had spells with Lecce, Nantes, Olympique Marseille and Chateauroux.
Brother Stephane, who is also a midfielder, signed a five-year contract with Racing last month.
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Uruguay captain Montero signs for San Lorenzo
BUENOS AIRES, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Uruguay captain Paolo Montero has signed a one-year contract to play for Argentine club San Lorenzo, a club spokesman said.
The 33-year-old, who has won 57 international caps, had spent the last 13 seasons in Italy, firstly with Atalanta and then with Juventus.
"I'm grateful for everything that Italy's given me but I've turned down other offers to continue in Europe," Montero said in a radio interview on Wednesday before agreeing terms.
"After 13 seasons, it's time to come back," added Montero, who has earned a reputation as one of the game's most ruthless defenders.
"Money's not important but I want to train with a group," said Montero, who has been training alone since leaving Italy.
San Lorenzo, who finished 16th in the Clausura championship held in the first half of the year, have also signed 34-year-old Paraguay striker Jose Cardozo from Mexico's Toluca.
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Monaco's Rodriguez joins Rangers
PARIS, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Monaco defender Julien Rodriguez has joined Glasgow Rangers, the Ligue 1 side announced on Thursday.
Sources inside the club say he is to sign a four-year deal with the Scottish champions.
Centre back Rodriguez, 27, has won the French title with Monaco in 2000.
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Luiz Alberto to leave Sociedad and sign for Santos
MADRID, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Real Sociedad defender Luiz Alberto will be returning to his home country of Brazil to play for Santos, he announced on Thursday.
"I'm hoping to travel to Brazil as soon as possible, either today or tomorrow, to pass a medical and sign a contract," the 27-year-old centre-back told a news conference in San Sebastian.
Luiz Alberto signed for Sociedad from St Etienne in January 2001 on the recommendation of then coach John Toshack, but was loaned out first to Porto Alegre and then Atletico Mineiro following the Welshman's dismissal in March 2002.
He returned to Sociedad last season and became a regular first-choice in the back four, playing 28 of the team's 38 league games.
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\Romania defender Contra to sign loan deal with Getafe
MADRID, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Atletico Madrid's Romanian international defender Cosmin Contra will join Getafe in a loan deal until the end of next season, the Primera Liga club said on Thursday.
The 29-year-old right back, who spent last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion and then Romanian first division side Poli AEK Timisoara, joined Atletico in 2002 and still has two years to run on his contract with the Primera Liga side.