Wolfsburg See Atletico Madrid’s John Heitinga As Cristian Zaccardo Replacement

With Italian full-back Cristian Zaccardo poised to return to his homeland, the Bundesliga champions are looking for a replacement.

With Wolfsburg preparing to grant Italian internationalCristian Zaccardo his wish to be allowed to return to Italy, the reigning German champions have turned their attention to finding someone to replace him, with media reports raising the name of John Heitinga.

Zaccardo has not succeeded in impressing at the Volkswagen Arena since his €7 million move from Palermo last summer, and according to a report in the WAZ, he is set to return to Serie A.

A replacement may already have been found, with Wolfsburg’s first-choice being Dutchman John Heitinga, who pays for Atletico Madrid. The 25-year-old has 48 caps for the Netherlands.

Heitinga’s strength is his ability to play both as a full-back and in the centre of defence. Andrea Barzagli is the first-choice at Wolfsburg, but neither Alexander Madlung nor Jan Simunek have totally convinced in the early part of the new Bundesliga season.

A fee for Heitinga has not been mentioned, but the Spanish side won’t be allowing their man to leave on the cheap, having signed him last summer for €10m.

Goal

~ by footballdirecta on August 26, 2009.