LONDON, February 1 – Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand has expressed gratitude to Fulham after the London club signed the star player from his side’s forthcoming Champions League opponents Olympiakos.
Fulham, managed by former United coach Rene Meulensteen, completed a move for Greece international striker Konstantinos Mitroglou on Friday.
Mitroglou is the top scorer in this season’s Greek Super League, with 14 goals, and Ferdinand is relieved that he will not come up against the 25-year-old when United tackle Olympiakos in the Champions League last 16.
“Fulham just signed our next opponents star man,” Ferdinand wrote on Twitter. “good work Rene!!”
Fulham paid around £12.5 million to Olympiakos for Greek international striker Mitroglou.
The 25-year-old, who claimed three goals in Greece’s victory over Romania in their two-legged World Cup qualifying play-off, will be expected to score the goals that lift Fulham out of the relegation zone.
Fulham also signed Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga from Everton on a short-term deal and German international midfielder Lewis Holtby on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
Moving in the other direction, Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov was loaned to Monaco, while Swiss centre-back Philippe Senderos joined Valencia on a permanent basis.
