Chopra finalises record move to Cardiff
Michael Chopra officially became a Cardiff City player today and, at the same moment, the club's record signing.
The Sunderland striker moved back to Ninian Park in January as part of a loan deal which both clubs agreed would convert into a permanent move on July 1.
The Echo understands that the undisclosed fee is actually 3m – 2m less than Roy Keane paid for him two years ago – with Cardiff making an initial downpayment of 500,000 with the rest to be paid in instalments.
Although Chopra only officially became Cardiff City property today, he has already linked up with the Bluebirds for pre-season training.
The Tynesider's signing smashes Cardiff's previous transfer record of 1,7m paid for Stoke City's Peter Thorne in September 2001.
The move represents an excellent bit of business by Cardiff, but possibly a decent move as far as Sunderland are concerned too.
Chopra was Cardiff's star player before Keane signed him – scoring 22 goals in 42 league starts after his move from Newcastle in 2006.
But the 5m the Wearsiders paid for him was always regarded as something of an over-inflated price.
Chopra scored a respectable eight goals for Sunderland in 22 starts but – as at Newcastle –rarely looked a top-class Premier League striker.
He scored some vital goals nevertheless and none more so that the one at Villa Park in April 2008 which earned Sunderland a 1-0 win and the Wearsiders' first away win of the season.
That goal and that result was credited by many within the club as the moment when Sunderland's battle to avoid relegation turned in their favour.
But Chopra failed to maintain his progress and after a shocking miss against Newcastle in the Tyne-Wear derby at St James's Park last season, a miss which raised the subject of his Geordie allegiances, he was never to play for Sunderland again.
Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale instantly spotted the predicament Chopra was in and was on the phone to Niall Quinn within hours, offering the striker an escape route.
Although his impact at Cardiff the second time around was more modest, four goals in 16 appearances, he is now perfectly poised to rebuild his career and put the Bluebirds among the front-runners for promotion from the Championship next season.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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