Two new additions to Wolves pack

The long wait is finally over. The club presented two new signings to the press on Sunday (21.08.05). At a press conference inside the VOLKSWAGENARENA. Steve Marlet and Domingos Alexandre Martins Costa, or "Alex" as he is known, both underwent medical checks and trained with the first team on Sunday morning. Both players expressed their delight at joining their new club, and hope that they can contribute somewhat in moving the club forward.

French international

Marlet, who has played 23 times for France, put pen to paper on a performance-related one year deal, with an option of a further year. The 31 year old all-rounder, who played from 2001 for Olympique Lyon before joining London club Fulham in the English Premier League, was on loan to Olympique Marseille fort he last two seasons. Whilst there, he scored 16 goals in 54 appearances. Marlet’s career began in 1990 at the Paris-based club Red Star 93. After sending six years there, he moved to AJ Auxerre, where he played before his move to Lyon.

Two players to help the Wolfsburg cause

Marlet, who will wear the number 21 on his back for the Wolves, described his new clab as: "an ambitious club with great vision. I saw the potential here right away and I am very much looking forward to my time here."  The Wolves manager Thomas Strunz is convinced that the signing of the Frenchman will help his side’s cause: "Steve Marlet is well known on the international stage. Besides being a fast striker, he is also a utility player who can help the team." 

Class act

Strunz is also delighted that Alex has joined the Wolves: "Alex is not as well known in Europe, despite his appearances for Portugal, but he possesses exactly the qualities of a defender that we were looking for. He is quick, attack-minded and like all Portuguese players, technically gifted. Alex is seen as the perfect replacement for Thomas Rytter, who returned to his native Denmark at the end of last season. Alex (25), has signed a four year deal which will run until June 30th 2009.

Much-travelled

The defender from the Portuguese league champions Benfica, was like Marlet on loan as the Wolves came in for him. He was at the Portuguese first division outfit Vitoria Guimaraes. Alex also spent some time at FC Moreirense and AD Fafe. Alex is currently a Portuguese international with three caps to his name. He will wear the number 19 at VfL Wolfsburg. Alex sees the club in a similar light to Marlet: "An ambitious club with great vision. I am delighted to be here and I am looking forward to contributing to bringing the club forward,” said Alex at the press conference.

Marlet and Alex against Leverkusen? Fach will wait and see

It is not yet known whether or not the new signings will make their debut for the Wolves, in their Bundesliga round 3 home game against Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend:  "We will wait and see how the next few days develop", said the Wolves coach Holger Fach. 

Neziri is also on Fach’s wanted list 

Thomas Strunz revealed at the press conference that the club is on the verge of signing yet another new player. This time is is the Serbian international Bojan Neziri, who has been on trial at the Wolves for seven days. The transfer rights for him are owned by the Ukranian first division club Metalurg Donezk, from whom Levan Tskitishvili joined the Wolves at the start of the season. The biggest success in the career of the 23 year old Neziri, was reaching the final of the under-21 European Championships held in Germany in 2004. Serbia lost 0-3 to Italy that day.

Number 7

Should the deal be completed, Neziri will become the club’s 7th new signing, following in the footsteps of: Peter van der Heyden, Mike Hanke, Matthias Langkamp, Tskitishvili, Marlet and Alex.