QPR: Can Granero be a hit in the Premier League?
I never thought I would see the day when Queens Park Rangers would be able to persuade players from Inter Milan and Real Madrid to Loftus Road but I take my hat off to manager Mark Hughes and owner Tony Fernandes.
Not only have the Rs bagged one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Julio Cesar (I wonder how Rob Green feels now) they have just secured a deal to bring Real Madrid midfielder Granero to the club. Two massive signings which should give everyone at QPR a lift following their terrible start to the season.
Mark Hughes has breathed new life into the club with the additions of Jose Bosingwa, Junior Holiett, Park Ji-Sung and Ryan Nelsen over the summer, but Granero looks ready to rival Taarabt and Faurlin in the skills department.
You don't get to play for Real Madrid unless you are a special player and Granero is a real talent. He joined Madrid as an eight-year-old and wowed coaches with his eye for goal, scoring 83 goals in one season in the under-10 division. However he found it hard to break into the first team at the Bernabeu and was farmed out to Getafe. Madrid brought him back but he only made 67 appearances in three years at the club. Now more known for supplying goals than actually scoring them, Granero is blessed technically and ready to perform week in, week out, in the Premier League.
Mark Hughes is obviously thrilled to have secured his signature. He told the official QPR website: "He is a great player, first and foremost. You don't play at a club like Real Madrid if you're not and he is very well regarded there."
He added: "For him to leave a club of that stature to come to us shows the belief he has in what we are trying to do."
At 25 Granero still has room to learn and grow, but will he be able to take the pace of the Premier League? That's always the killer question when you sign a foreigner, but having seen the likes of fellow Spaniards Mata and Michu take the league by storm I see no reason why Granero cannot do the same. He's calm under pressure, keeps hold of the ball well, always gives his team-mates an option and knows where the goals are.
Mark Hughes and QPR have signed a belter of a player.
Here is some video footage of Granero in action.
Calling all QPR fans: What do you make of the signing of Granero? What do you think he will bring to the club? What about Julio Cesar joining the Rs too? What other areas of the pitch would you like to see Hughes strengthen before the transfer window slams shut? Who do you think Hughes will push out the door? Whatever your view, we'd love to hear from you.
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