By DAN KARELL
Borussia Dortmund have found a replacement for the outgoing Robert Lewandowski.
After months of rumors, Dortmund confirmed on Wednesday that they’ve agreed a deal to sign Hertha Berlin forward Adrian Ramos, with the Colombian international signing a four-year contract beginning in July. Both clubs didn’t disclose the transfer fee but reports in the German media state the fee is anywhere from €8-10 million.
“Adrian Ramos is an excellent footballer and one of the top strikers in Germany. He fits perfectly the profile of player we want at Borussia Dortmund,” Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said in a statement.
Ramos, 28, has scored 32 goals and assisted on 18 others in 89 Bundesliga matches since he joined Hertha in 2009 for a reported €1.4 million. Ramos was a big part of Hertha’s promotion campaign last year. This season, Ramos has scored 16 goals and added seven assists.
Speaking to SportBild, Zorc said that the club will sign two strikers this summer, leaving speculation open for who the next signing could be.
Here are some more stories to start your Wednesday:
INIESTA TO MAKE 500TH APPEARANCE
When Andres Iniesta takes the field at the Vicente Calderon this evening, it will mark another record in his record-setting career.
Tonight’s expected start for Iniesta will be his 500th official appearance for Barcelona, a mark matched by only four other players in the club’s history. Three of Iniesta’s teammates sit ahead of him on the all-time appearance list: Xavi Hernandez in the top spot with 716, Carles Puyol in second with 593, and Victor Valdes in fourth with 535.
Iniesta made his Barcelona debut as an 18-year-old under manager Louis Van Gaal in the 2002/2003 season. Since then, he’s scored 50 goals and won an amazing 21 titles, including three UEFA Champions League trophies.
CERRO PORTEÑO, VELEZ FINISH AS GROUP LEADERS, LANUS SURVIVE PAST O’HIGGINS
Drama reigned supreme as the final round of group stage play in the Copa Libertadores began on Tuesday evening.
Paraguayan club Cerro Porteño won a wild 3-2 match over Colombia’s Deportivo Cali to win Group 3 and finish Cali’s Libertadores run. Cerro though may have thought they were in for another defeat when Cristian Marrugo put Cali up 1-0 with ease in the 12th minute. Cerro leveled the score in the 37th minute though when a shot on goal was deflected in by Cali’s Luis Payares to give the home side some hope of advancing.
Just prior to halftime, former Spanish National Team forward Dani Guiza took advantage of confusion in the box and slotted home to give Cerro the lead. Cali tied the score in the 61st minute when Carlos Rivas fired home from the top of the box but a 80th minute penalty kick goal from Julio Dos Santos gave Cerro the deserved victory.
Elsewhere in Copa Libertadores action, Argentine side Velez Sarsfield won Group 1 behind a 1-0 victory against last-place Universitario of Peru, Argentina’s Lanus used a scoreless draw on the road to edge on to the knockout stages past Chilean side O’Higgins, and Bolivia’s The Strongest shocked Brazilian side Atletico Paranaense with a 2-1 victory to move on to the next round.
QUICK KICKS
Around 50 workers have gone on strike at the Curitiba World Cup stadium over unpaid wages. (REPORT)
Olympique Marseille have confirmed that they are in contact with Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa to be the team’s next manager. (REPORT)
Manchester United winger Nani could be set for a summer move away from Old Trafford despite signing a new five-year deal last fall. (REPORT)
Miroslav Klose’s World Cup hopes to represent Germany are in serious doubt after picking up a left thigh injury that will keep him out for one month. (REPORT)
Manchester City defender Micah Richards is on his way out of the club after making just ten starts in the past two years. (REPORT)
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What do you think of this news? Do you see Ramos succeeding at Lewandowski’s level at Dortmund? Who else do you see Dortmund signing? Do you think Iniesta can pass Xavi someday?
Share your thoughts below.