Two agreements were reached on Monday for the transfers to OM of the Spanish forward Fernando Morientes and the Lorient midfielder Fabrice Abriel.

It was a double announcement that greeted the visitors to OM.net on Monday afternoon. The first concerned the attack, the second the midfield. At 16h08, the agreement between OM and the Spanish legend Fernando Morientes was officially announced. Just afterwards he was followed by the arrival of Fabrice Abriel, Lorient’s inspired midfielder. At the start of the evening the latter was already out on the pitch at La Commanderie, in the middle of his new team-mates. Beforehand, Didier Deschamps had extolled to the Press the new OM midfielders versatility: « He can play anywhere in the midfield and is at ease in a number of different formations. He has also often played as a secnd forward. Technically he is very strong which allows him to play in a number of positions ».
Coming through the youth system at Paris SG, Fabrice Abriel really learnt his trade in the lower levels of French football. With Amiens then Guingamp where his activity in the midfield linked with his ease on the ball didn’t let him fall by the wayside unnoticed. These qualitites allowed him to join the elite with a transfer to Lorient in 2006 we he became indispensable in the system used by Christian Gourcuff.

Ad what is there to be said about Morientes? Didier Deschamps had stated his desire to aqcuire a second centre forward alongwith Brandao. He has found what he wanted with the Spanish international who really needs no introduction.
Three times winner of the Champions League, two Spanish Liga titles, one Spanish cup, one FA Cup and one European Super Cup, 142 goals scored in the first division (Spanish, French and English), 44 goals in European competition (39 in the Champions League, 2 in the Cup Winners Cup and 3 in the UEFA Cup) and 27 goals in 47 matches with the Spanish national side. At 33 years of age, Fernando Morientes is still a great goal scorer, efficient in front of goal, very good in the air and always in the right place at the right time.
« He is still fresh and wants to play in top level matches. I’m not at all worried  », assures the OM coach. « Del Piero and Inzaghi have both scored important goals at 35 years of age. I know he won’t be able to play 40 full matches. We will have to prepare him, he won’t be ready straight away but he is another option (…) and a good thing for the Ligue 1 ».
He is expected in Marseille on Tuesday to undergo the traditional medical visit before signing his contract. The two new recruits will be presented towards the end of the morning.