FC St. Pauli

“We’re delighted to have won Rico for St. Pauli,” said director of sport Uwe Stöver. “He has proved himself at all his previous clubs and is a player who assumes responsibility on the pitch. With his experience of almost 200 second and third division games and his style of play, he is exactly the kind of player we have identified a need for in midfield.”

Head coach Markus Kauczinski also expressed his satisfaction with the deal: “Rico is assured on the ball and passes it well. He’s a good, robust, strong-running link man between defence and attack who will add genuine quality to our midfield.”

Benatelli, who has played against the Boys in Brown several times, said the talks with Stöver and Kauczinski swayed him: “The St. Pauli representatives made a very good impression during our meetings and worked hard to win me over, so I join St. Pauli in summer with a positive feeling. It’s a special club that has always impressed me. I’m looking forward to running out at the Millerntor as a player of the home team."

To date, the midfielder has made 125 second division appearances (14 goals) for Erzgebirge Aue, Kickers Würzburg and Dynamo Dresden and 72 third division appearances for Würzburg and Borussia Dortmund’s second string (12 goals).

Photos: Witters