Soccer:Top scorer Michu has given Swansea a major boost by signing a new four-year contract at the Liberty Stadium. The 26-year-old forward has taken the Barclays Premier League by storm since joining from Rayo Vallecano for just £2 million in the summer, scoring 13 top-flight goals so far this term.
His exploits had seen the Spaniard linked with a big-money move away from the Swans, but he has penned a deal to keep him in south Wales until 2016. He told the official club website: “It was an easy decision for me. I am living a dream here at Swansea.”
Earlier this month, Sawnsea manager Michael Laudrup warned potential bidders that just a handful of rich clubs could afford the striker.
"I'm not the one putting the price tag on him," Laudrup said after Michu scored against Chelsea in the first leg of their League Cup semi-final at Stamford Bridge. The second leg takes place at the Liberty Stadium this evening.
"We all know the economic situation in the world, so there really aren't that many clubs who can buy him,” Laudrup said at the time. "There are some here. In Spain there are only two. Italy, I don't think so. They're trying to sell. Bayern Munich in Germany . . . so only a few, few clubs."
In a sport increasingly dominated by spiralling transfer fees, Michu's acquisition was a clear indication that diamonds can still be unearthed in the mines of European football. Michu's performances are even more impressive considering he was signed as an attacking midfielder who had only hinted at his goalscoring potential in La Liga last season.
"Michu likes it here," Laudrup added. "He's happy where he is, so I'm really not afraid because I'm so sure he will stay with us for the next five or six months. I don't know how much he's worth. Ask my chairman. He was the bargain of the season, we know that."