Sweden striker Larsson signs for Barcelona

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June 30, 2004 22:19 IST

Sweden striker Henrik Larsson signed a two-year contract with Barcelona on Wednesday and said his experience of playing for Celtic for seven seasons would stand him in good stead at his new club.

"I enjoy the pressure of playing for a big club like Barca," Larsson told a news conference at the Nou Camp. "I know what it is like because I have experienced it in Scotland."

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The 32-year-old, who won four league titles with Celtic and is the third highest scorer in the club's history with 242 goals from 315 appearances, will wear the number 17 shirt at Barcelona.

He said that despite his age he still retained a fierce appetite for the game and had not signed for the Catalan club just to see out his career.

"All I can say is that I'm not here for a holiday," he told reporters. "I'm here to give everything and will be battling away right through to the end.

"It's a big challenge, the kind of challenge I was looking for."

Larsson was persuaded to come out of international retirement to play for Sweden at Euro 2004 and scored three goals as he helped the Scandinavians into the quarter-finals where they lost to the Netherlands on penalties.

He has scored 28 goals in 78 international appearances and won the Golden Boot award as top scorer in European club football for his 35 goals for Celtic in 2000-2001.

The Swede is the third player to join the club since the end of last season.

The Catalans have signed Brazil international defender Juliano Belletti from Villarreal for an estimated 3.7 million euros ($4.48 million) and French midfielder Ludovic Giuly from Monaco for a reported 6.7 million euros ($8.12 million).

Barcelona, who have not won any silverware in the last five years, finished as runners-up to Valencia in the Spanish Primera Liga last season to qualify for a place in the group stage of the Champions League.

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