Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan have signed left-back Ivan Marcano from Villarreal, the Spanish club said Saturday.
The move ends the former Spain under-21 player’s three-year stay at Villarreal, where he played 16 games and was loaned out to Getafe and Greece’s Olympiacos.
“Villarreal CF and FC Rubin Kazan have reached a transfer agreement regarding defender Ivan Marcano, who will play at the Russian club next season,” a statement on the Villarreal website said.
Spanish newspaper AS reported Thursday that the fee for Marcano’s transfer would be six million euros and that he had turned down a rival Russian bid from Spartak Moscow.
Villarreal finished 18th and were relegated to the second division this season, while Rubin finished sixth in the Russian Premier League and qualified for the Europa League group stage after winning the Russian Cup.
Rubin officials are revamping the club to get closer to the top of the table next season. Expectations of success are high in Kazan, where Rubin won back-to-back titles in 2008 and 2009, coming third in 2010.
Rubin president Dmitry Samarenkin stepped down Tuesday and was replaced by Valery Sorokin, general director of local government-controlled firm Svyazinvestneftkhim.
