Left-back Cristian Ansaldi has joined Atletico Madrid on a season-long loan from Zenit St Petersburg.
The 27-year-old defender becomes the eighth signing of the summer for Diego Simeone, as the Argentine continues to reload his La Liga winning side. The announcement also comes on the heels of Los Rojiblancos welcoming France international Antoine Griezmann to the Vicente Calderon yesterday afternoon.
Ansaldi spent one season with Zenit St Petersburg after playing the previous five seasons at their Russian Premier League rivals, Rubin Kazan. The left-back made 128 appearances during that time and helped Rubin Kazan win two league titles, two Russian Super Cups and a Russian Cup.
The defender started his career at Newell’s Old Boys in 2005 and has been an Argentinian international since 2009.
Atletico Madrid Sporting Manager, Jose Luis Perez Caminero, had this to say of the left-back’s arrival to the Spanish capital: “Ansaldi is a player who’s going to help us increase the group’s competitiveness. He’s a fullback who can play at both sidelines, with a great defence level and offers many variables on the attack. He will bring plenty with his versatility, we are very pleased with this agreement”.
