Luiciano Becchio is formally a Leeds United player. Lets hope he does better than his compatriot Alex Sabella did 28 years ago!

Luciano Becchio has agreed a three-year deal with Leeds United.

The Argentine striker has signed on a free-transfer from Spanish side Merida.

He only arrived at Leeds little over a week ago and impressed during our Irish tour and at Barnet on Saturday.

He sat out of our bore-draw at Darlington whilst formalities were completed.

According to Thickypedia (Wikipedia!) he was born in Cordoba, Argentina on 28th December 1983.

The official Leeds website is somewhat at odds with Thickypedia, obviously the Elland Road spin-doctors are keen to market him as an ex-player with glamour clubs such as Boca Juniors, RCD Mallorca and Barcelona.

However it appears that he did not start a game for Boca and his time at Mallorca and Barca was spent in their "B" teams. In La Liga, reserve teams do play in the same league structure as their seniors - but cannot compete in the same Division. I seem to remember Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez calling for England to adopt a similar policy.

Whilst at Barca, he played 10 times for their reserves without scoring. Leeds fans who have visited the Camp Nou (whilst on holiday or even on Champs League "business" all those years ago!) may have noticed the "Mini Estadi" next-door to the Camp Nou - where Barcelona Atletic play their matches.

But Becchio hit a rich vein of form at Merida, scoring 28 times in 50 appearances.

He becomes Macca's FIFTH summer signing, along with Andy Robinson, Alan Sheehan, Enoch Showunmi and Robert Snodgrass.

He is also Macca's FIFTH recognised striker, as well as signing Showunmi and Snodgrass (who can also play as a winger), Macca also has last years succesful duo Tresor Kandol and Jermaine Beckford to call upon!

And some pundits are tipping Macca to make it SIX in the striking department, with moves speculated for either Jay Bothroyd of Wolves or Dougie Freedman of Crystal Palace!

Photo: Action Images

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