Cavalieri signs four-year Anfield deal - to play second fiddle as keeper to Reina

13 April 2012

Liverpool have clinched the signing of Brazilian goalkeeper Diego Cavalieri
from Palmeiras.

Deal: Cavalieri

The 25-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the Barclays Premier League club and will begin life at Anfield as understudy to Jose Reina.

Cavalieri becomes the third Brazilian at the club alongside Lucas and Fabio Aurelio and is manager Rafael Benitez's third major signing of the summer following the arrivals of full-backs Philipp Degen and Andrea Dossena.

Cavalieri, who also holds an Italian passport, fully accepted he would play second fiddle to Spain international Reina after joining the Reds.

'I know it won't be easy to get into the team,' he said.

'I watched some Liverpool games in both the Premier League and Champions
League last year and I know Pepe (Reina) is a very good goalkeeper. But everyone
has to fight for their place and I'm sure we will have a healthy rivalry.

The real No.1: Pepe Reina

'I know I will have to be patient and work very hard to achieve my aims - but it is always like that when you come from another country.

'You have to adapt inside and outside of the pitch and get used to the way things work. But with hard work you get there.

'My confidence has got me where I am today and maybe people are aware of what
I did at Palmeiras in Brazil.

'I am sure that one day I can get the number one position but that will only
come with hard work.'

Despite the prospect of spending much of the coming season on the bench,
Cavalieri, who is thought to have cost the club around £3million, hailed a 'dream' move to Merseyside.

'"The name Liverpool is known all around the world. It's an honour to wear this
shirt' he added.

'It was a dream for me to come to Europe, though I was taken aback by how
quickly everything happened. It's all been sorted out in one week.

'But I have been given a very good welcome from my team-mates and the manager,
so I'm very happy to be here. I just hope I can respond to all this.

'Rafa and I spoke for a long time on the day I arrived. He explained to me how
the football is here and the differences from Brazil. He also talked to me about
the responsibilities of representing a club like Liverpool.'



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