Getafe sign Verpakovskis

The pacy 27-year-old insisted he was keen to stay in Spain, though admitted he would have to make a quick impression.

"I don't think I will need much time as I only have six months to prove myself," he commented. "But I don't consider it too difficult a task for me."

Verpakovskis also revealed his eagerness to link up with manager Bernd Schuster, adding:

"In Ukraine Schuster is well known, I remember well how people talked about him and his team, and arriving at Getafe is a big opportunity for me.

"Last spring [people] starting talking about the idea of me coming here, and from then on I started taking a greater interest on the team, but above all the idea seemed attractive to me knowing the coach who was in charge of the team."

The player is the Azulones' second big name signing of the season after Argentinian goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri, though president Angel Torres insisted the primary objective of the club remained unchanged.

"Our aim is the same," he confirmed. "We know it is a privilege to be in the Primera Division, to get enough points to ensure safety as soon as possible, and only turn our attentions to other things when we have done that."