CHRISTIAN BASSEDAS has vowed to get Newcastle back on the road to the big time whilst also paying tribute to his former club, Velez Sarsfield, in a touching gesture of loyalty. Having completed his $6 million (#4 million) move, the Argentinian international said: "I am thankful to Velez and someday I would like to return but now I feel that I needed a change.

"After ten years in the Velez first team, it felt that I had completed an era.

"I left Buenos Aires with a little fear because the move came as some surprise and very quickly, but happily everything went well. I signed my contract at noon and then had photos taken of me and Eduardo Mousseaud, the president of Velez."

Bassedas will now return to Argentina on Friday but will only train with his former teammates. He will return to Newcastle in July to meet up with Newcastle manager Bobby Robson and the rest of the team for pre-season training.

The player continued: "Just when I signed I believed." Bassedas signed a contract that will pay him arounds #18,000 a week. He said: "15 days ago, the manager of the Newcastle (Robson) came to see me in Velez. I spoke with him and I decided to join the club, although we decided not to announce it.

After two days in the city, Bassedas has already felt the depth of feeling for Newcastle United in the people. He said: "This city is fantastic. You go by the street and all the people are wearing Newcastle shirts."

Having completed the deal, Bassedas was especially pleased with the way his old side came out of it. He said: "Velez came out of the deal the leaders and I am very content because the boys are going to be paid up-to-date."

Thats my boy !

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

Answers

Canny lad by the sounds of it - just hope he does the business, eh.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

First game in Washington so I'll see him then ;)

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

I think his nickname's got to be Badass!

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

Appropriate for when he starts to scythe through the oppositions midfield. Well heres hoping, but not in a red card sending off sort of way or course! >:o)

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

So long as he doesn't turn out to be a frothy bubble-bath type of player and end up as Badedas...I'm thinking Andrea Abdersson here :-(

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

With the two of them in the team....they have to be Dabs and Bads.

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

Give him six months he will be speaking fluent Geordie ! :o)

ITK great screensaver form Daily Toon!! ;o)

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

Thanks for the compliment on the screensaver Jay.....I would love to take the credit, but it is down to Andy.....he's the techie one!

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

This guy seems to get more and more expensive - I hope he is worth it

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

The thread title reminds me of the latest cheesy gadget being sold on tv over here...the Boogie Bass. It's a mounted plastic bass that 'sings' while moving it's head and tail. If "badass' doesn't stick, we could always call him 'boogie bass'. Hopefully he won't be hanging from the wall and singing however. ;-)

-- Anonymous, June 02, 2000

For any of you who were wondering, I'd just like to categorically deny that the above translation had anything to do with either me or my Spanish dic. Thank you for your attention.

-- Anonymous, June 05, 2000