• 29-year-old’s contract had been due to expire at end of season
• Michu is now expected to join club in Spain
Swansea have parted company with the Spain forward Michu by mutual consent.
The move had been expected since last summer when the manager Garry Monk confirmed that the once-capped Spain international would not play for the Premier League club again. But talks over terminating the player’s contract had dragged on.
“Both parties have reached a financial agreement over the remainder of the 29-year-old’s contract, which ran until the end of this season,” said a statement on Swansea’s official club website.
“The agreement will allow Michu to become a free agent and assist him to find a new club straight away in order to kick-start his playing career again in January.”
Michu proved an instant hit following his £2m move from Rayo Vallecano in July 2012, scoring four times in his first three games and ending the season with 22 goals as Swansea won the Capital One Cup – the club’s first major trophy in 101 years.
But Michu’s second season became a frustrating affair despite the Oviedo-born player being capped by the Spain coach Vincente Del Bosque in a World Cup qualifier against Belarus in October 2013.
Injury restricted him to 24 appearances, in which he scored six goals, and his final game for Swansea came in a 1-0 defeat at Hull in April 2014.
Michu joined Napoli on loan the following season but he made only five appearances for the Serie A club as he suffered further ankle problems. He is expected to make the move back to Spain after his stint in Wales.
