SV Hamburg welcome Ze Roberto, move for Tesche (Roundup)

Jul 3, 2009, 13:28 GMT

   Hamburg - Brazil's Ze Roberto has joined SV Hamburg on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, the club confirmed Friday.

Coach Bruno Labbadio said the Bundesliga club was also planning to sign Arminia Bielefeld midfielder Robert Tesche pending a medical test.

Ze Roberto will join the Hamburg squad at a training camp in Laengefeld, Austria on Monday, his 35th birthday.

He has signed a two-year contract at the Bundesliga club and will wear the number eight shirt, the club said.

   'He is a technically gifted player with vast experience,' said Labbadia who has succeeded Dutchman Martin Jol.

   'Ze has proven his class at both club and international level for many years.'

   Ze Roberto played 282 games for Bayern, winning four Bundesliga titles, and has played 84 times for Brazil.

   He had wanted to remain at Bayern on a two-year deal but the club was prepared to offer only a one-year extension.

Labbadia said it was hoped to sign 22-year-old Lesche on a three-year contract. The coach also hopes striker Paolo Guerrero will put pen to paper on a new contract.

The Peru international has been holding out for a wage increase, and would like to be earning something similar to the 3.5 million euros (4.9 million dollars) a year reportedly negotiated by Ze Roberto.

The Hamburg squad met up for performance tests on Friday and will resume training on Saturday for the new league season beginning August 7. Hamburg will, however, be in competitive action before that with a Europa League fixture on July 30.