VfB Stuttgart have confirmed the acquisition of Atlético Madrid defender Emiliano Insua on a three-year deal.
The 26-year-old has joined on a free transfer, after the Spanish side terminated his contract. Insua spent last season on loan with Rayo Vallecano, making over 20 appearances for the first time since the 2011/12 campaign.
Consistency has been lacking so far, despite promising periods
An under-20 World Cup winner, Insua showed great promise in his youth with Boca Juniors and was quickly snapped up by Liverpool in 2007. He gradually worked his way into the first-team before playing a key role in Rafael Benitez's final season in charge.
After being loaned out to Galatasary, Sporting picked him up and enjoyed enjoyed a very successful second year with the Lisbon-based club - promoting Atléti to purchase him in January 2013.
However, Insua never really fit into the for the capital club and was loan out to Rayo a season later. Despite having a reasonably solid season, the two parties decided to part ways and he now finds himself in the Bundesliga.
A step in the right direction ahead of next season
"The transfer of Emiliano Insua is a further step in our squad planning," commented sporting director, Robin Dutt. He said the club "are delighted" that Insua will be at the Mercedes-Benz Arena next season and will wear "the shirt with the infamous red hoop". He concluded by wishing him "the very best" in the hope that he will have a good start in Swabia.
After narrowly avoiding relegation last term, Dutt and new manager Alex Zorniger have been working hard to breathe new life back into the Stuttgart side. Lukas Rupp, Mitchell Langerak, Przemyslaw Tyton, Jan Kliment and Philip Heise have already been recruited, as they look to restore the good times back to the south German club.