Royal Blues sign striker Vicente Sanchez
17.01.2008
FC Schalke 04 have completed their third new signing of the winter break, following the arrival of Albert Streit and Ze Roberto. Uruguay international Vicente Martin Sanchez Bragunde joins the Royal Blues from Mexican club Deportivo Toluca with immediate effect.
On Thursday afternoon the 28-year-old (date of birth: 7 December 1979) put pen to paper on a deal that will tie him to the club until 30 June 2011. His contract with the Mexican club was due to expire this summer. The Uruguayan will wear the number 27 shirt during the second half of the season.
"Vicente Sanchez was top of our wish list in attack. He is quick, an excellent dribbler and a good finisher", was how general manager Andreas Müller described the striker's main qualities. "He's also a likeable guy who has been very popular at all his clubs. That is why Deportivo Toluca found it extremely difficult to let him go." According to head coach Mirko Slomka, Sanchez is a good fit for his tactical concept. "He will add even more pace to our play and he knows exactly where the goal is. A look at his goalscoring record will tell you what a good finisher he is. Vicente always takes the shortest route to goal. And although he's left-footed, he also gets some fine goals with his right."
Another factor in his favour is his flexibility. "He can play both on the left side of attack in a 4-3-3 and as the second striker in a 4-4-2", said Slomka. Sanchez is delighted the deal has gone through. "I've heard a lot of positive things about Schalke from my Uruguay team mates. They're one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Hopefully I can play as big a part in the team's success as I did in Toluca."
After stints with several clubs as a youth player Sanchez made his professional debut for Uruguayan second division team Institucion Atletica Sud America in 1998. He then joined first division side Tacuarembo in the summer of 2000 before signing for Montevideo outfit Nacional in January 2001. It was there he caught the attention of top Mexican club Deportivo Toluca, whom he joined in the summer of 2001. Sanchez scored 71 goals in 200 league appearances for the eight-time Mexican champions, thus playing a major role in the club's title wins in 2002 and 2005. He made his international debut for Uruguay in 2001 and has scored four goals in 26 appearances to date.
