Racing seal Alfaro swoop

Racing Santander have signed Sevilla defender Pablo Alfaro on loan for the rest of the season.

The 35-year-old has been frozen out at Estadio Ruiz de Lopera since Juande Ramos took over last summer and has made only a single start this term.

Subsequently he has opted to move on as he bids to prolong his top-flight career.

The deal he has agreed with Racing is appearance based and if he does establish himself as a regular at El Sardinero then there is an option to extend his spell for a further 12 months when the current loan expires at the end of the season.

Racing are rather light in terms of centre halves presently, especially with young star Samuel San Jose having been ruled out for the foreseeable future with a knee ligament injury.

Alfaro will pep up their back-line, although it seems he will ultimately return to Sevilla who are to offer him a coaching or ambassadorial role once he decides to call time on his career.