Saviola delighted at Malaga arrival
New Malaga striker Javier Saviola admits he is happy to be joining a side which has shown it can overcome difficult challenges and be successful.
Saviola, 30, was unveiled at La Rosaleda on Monday, along with fellow late transfer window signings Manuel Iturra and Oguchi Onyewu, while another new arrival, Roque Santa Cruz, spoke via a video link-up from Paraguay, where he is with his national side.
"I am proud and honoured to be at Malaga," Saviola said. "I am very happy to have returned to La Liga and hopefully we can continue on this run of results and do as well as possible in the three competitions we have. I am very excited and eager to show the football I have inside."
After a difficult summer, where former stars including Santi Cazorla and Salomon Rondon were sold to meet mounting debts, Malaga have begun the new season by easing past Panathinaikos to make the Champions League group stages, and have seven points from their first three La Liga games.
Former Argentina international Saviola, who signed for Malaga after being released by Benfica, said he was impressed at how his new team-mates had overcome such adversity.
"From outside you can see a very competitive team who are together, because they have lived through difficult moments," he said. "The team responded better than was expected. We hope that the unity of the dressing-room is reflected out on the pitch. It was not a difficult decision to come here, just the opposite."
Santa Cruz, 31, who is to spend another year on loan in La Liga from Manchester City after last season's spell at Real Betis, said he was looking forward to a return to Champions League football.
"To play in the Champions League is a luxury for a player," Santa Cruz said. "We are all looking forward to it and very happy with the opportunity. I am very optimistic and aim to play a good season and score goals. There is a lot of talent here."
USA international defender Onyewu, 30, signed on a season-long loan deal from Sporting Lisbon, said he felt he could add something to the Andalucian side's defence.
"Malaga is a very strong team. I am coming here to give 100%, to add things to the defence, whatever the team and the coach need," Onyewu said. "I believe my strength and leadership can help the team. I have had the chance to compete in other very important championships, but at a technical level the Spanish league is the best in the world."
Chile international midfielder Iturra, 28, who made 35 appearances for Murcia in Spain's Segunda Division last season, said he was looking forward to the step up in class.
"It is a big jump in my career to play for a Champions League team," Iturra said. "I hope to succeed at this level. Although I knew nobody in the dressing-room before, I was told they were a good group, and I can confirm that now."
