Wednesday 10th July 2002

Levski Sofia director Nasko Sirakov paid tribute to Georgi 'Gonzo'
Ivanov after the striker completed his £2.7 million move to Rennes
on Wednesday.

"We are sad to see Gonzo go but he has had five terrific seasons
with us and deserves to play in a league as strong as the French,"
said Sirakov.

As onefootball.com revealed on Tuesday, representatives from Rennes
travelled to Sofia to thrash out a deal for the Bulgaria
international earlier this week. Negtoaitions were finally concluded
at 2am on Wednesday morning.

"Rennes have been tracking Gonzo for the last two weeks and we have
eventually accepted their excellent offer after some long and
detailed discussion," confirmed Sirakov.

The transfer fee was expected to break the Bulgarian record, set
when Stilian Petrov joined Celtic from CSKA Sofia for £2.8 million
in 1999, but, as Sirakov explained, the initial agreement falls just
short of that figure.

"We have accepted their £2.7 million bid, although Rennes have
agreed that we will receive 15 per cent of any future sale. Gonzo
will now go to France to sign a three-year contract," added the
Levski chief.

The talented forward, who has been voted Bulgaria's Player of the
Year twice running, is relishing the prospect of playing in Le
Championnat.

"I admit that I know little about Rennes," said Ivanov. "But after
the talks I have had, it is obvious to me that they are an ambitious
club.

"I know that the former Bulgaria international and Levski defender
Nikolai Iliev played for Rennes in the mid-1990s and I feel that I
am ready to accept the challenge of playing abroad.

"There have been many rumours about me in the last 12 months, but I
know that I will have to start again from scratch at Rennes. I will
work hard," he promised.

News of Ivanov's transfer comes just 24 hours after the Brittany
club completed the signing of highly-rated Czech Republic Under-21
goalkeeper Petr Cech.