Swansea boss Laudrup swoops for Flores

LONDON (AFP) –

Defender Jose Manuel Flores, then of Mallorca, beats Valencia forward Aritz Aduriz to a header during the Spanish league match in Palma de Mallorca in October 2011. Michael Laudrup made his first signing as Swansea manager on Tuesday, completing a £2 million ($3.1 million) swoop for Flores, now playing at Genoa.

Michael Laudrup made his first signing as Swansea manager on Tuesday, completing a £2 million ($3.1 million) swoop for Genoa defender Jose Manuel Flores.

Flores, who is often known by his nickname ‘Chico’, agreed a three-year contract with the Premier League club after completing a medical and will be linked up with his new team-mates subject to international clearance.

The 25-year-old’s arrival marks the start of Laudrup’s rebuilding work at the Liberty Stadium after the former Barcelona and Real Madrid star’s surprise appointment as successor to Brendan Rodgers.

Laudrup knows Flores well after working with the Spanish centre-back during his spell in charge at Real Mallorca.

“He was one of the main reasons I signed. He knows me as a person and a player, so I was honoured when the call came,” Flores said.

“I believe the manager will be good for Swansea and they have done extremely well to get him. Swansea’s way of playing is the same style as he wants to play the game. He is the right person to take this club forward.

“I am very happy to be here. I know I am joining a club that has been growing over the last few years and is still ambitious to go even higher.”

Flores, a former Spain Under-21 international, started his career with his hometown club Cadiz and had numerous loan spells before joining Almeria.

He made a £4 million switch to Genoa in 2010 but returned to Spain for a loan spell with Mallorca last season.