Football United

Paris Saint-Germain FC have signed two key players from Ligue 1 rivals, capturing midfield player Jérôme Rothen from AS Monaco FC on a four-year deal for €10m and defender Mario Yepes from FC Nantes Atlantique.

Impressive season
Rothen, who was under contract at the Stade Louis II until 2006, joins the Ligue 1 runners-up after impressing last season during Monaco's run to the UEFA Champions League final, resulting in his call up to Jacques Santini's France squad for UEFA EURO 2004™.

Expected move
Rothen had been expected to join PSG since the end of last season, but negotiations between the two clubs were only concluded on 24 June. Certainly the midfield player had made no secret of his desire to link up with coach Vahid Halilhodzic at PSG.

'Dream club'
"Because I'm from the Parisian suburbs, PSG have always been the club I dreamed to play for," said Rothen, adding: "Paris is not a springboard to go abroad for me. I want to clinch titles here and keep improving with coach Vahid Halilhodzic."

Caught the eye
The 26 year old left winger joined Monaco in January 2002 in a €4.5m deal from ES Troyes Aube Champagne where his pace and accurate crossing soon caught the eye after three seasons in the second division with Stade Malherbe Caen.

Tactically astute
Rothen has became a stronger and more tactically astute player under the tutelage of coach Didier Deschamps. And it was under Deschamps' watchful eye, that Rothen made his France debut in a 6-0 thrashing of Malta in March 2003.

Key departures
Rothen is the third first-team regular to leave Monaco since Deschamps' side reached the Champions League final. Since then, Dado Pršo has signed for Rangers FC and Fernando Morientes has returned to Real Madrid CF. Captain Ludovic Giuly will be the fourth if, as expected, he joins FC Barcelona in a €7m deal.

Yepes secured

PSG have also secured the signing of highly-rated Nantes defender Yepes for an undisclosed fee. The 28-year-old Colombian centre-half, who arrived in Ligue 1 in 2002, made 74 league appearances for Nantes over two-and-a-half seasons and has signed a four-year deal with the capital club.

Source: Uefa.com