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Kezman completes his Madrid move

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Kezman's chances were limited during his Stamford Bridge stay

MADRID, Spain -- Serbia-Montenegro striker Mateja Kezman completed his transfer to Atletico Madrid from Chelsea on Wednesday after passing a medical.

Chelsea said on its website it will receive euro8 million ($9.65m) for Kezman -- $600,000 more than they paid PSV Eindhoven for the player last year.

"I'm pleased to come to a club that was once bigger than Chelsea and I hope that, in the future, they will be bigger than them again," Kezman said.

Kezman, who has signed a three-year contract with Atletico, said his lack of first-team opportunities at Chelsea forced him to leave.

While the team won its first league title in 50 years, he scored just four goals in 24 league appearances.

"I was happy at Chelsea. It was a pity that I didn't get to play much but that's why I decided to move," he added at a news conference at Vicente Calderon stadium.

The 26-year-old said the move to Spain would suit his playing style.

"The Spanish league is more like the Dutch league. I always dreamed of playing in Spain," he said.

Kezman also said he hoped to continue his record of having helped three teams become national champions in different countries -- Partizan Belgrade in the former Yugoslavia, PSV in the Netherlands and Chelsea in England.

Kezman made his name with Partizan before joining PSV in 2000 for a four-year spell in which he scored 105 goals.

Atletico finished 11th in Spain's 20-team championship, and scored just 40 goals in 38 league games.

Three weeks ago, they fired coach Cesar Ferrando and replaced him with former Boca Juniors coach Carlos Bianchi.

Atletico are also close to signing another forward -- Espanyol's Argentine international Maxi Rodriguez.

"President Daniel Sanchez Llibre and managing director Jose Luis Morlanes have established the principles of an agreement for the transfer of Maxi Rodriguez to Atletico Madrid," Espanyol said on their website.

"The transfer fee will definitely be higher than the three million euros ($3.64m) offered by Atletico at the beginning of the week, which the club unanimously rejected."

The 24-year-old, who has made nine appearances for his country and is a member of their Confederations Cup squad, joined Espanyol in 2002 from Newell's Old Boys for six million euros and was top scorer with 15 goals last season.

He had one year remaining on his contract but rejected the club's offer of an extension.

The versatile forward can play wide on the right or in a central role and will become Atletico's third new face of the close season if the deal is completed.

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