Figueroa completes loan move to Boca Juniors

BUENOS AIRES, October 8 (Apertura) - Luciano Figueroa has finalised his loan move from Genoa to Boca Juniors after passing a medical.

The Argentina striker arrived in Buenos Aires on Wednesday morning and was introduced to his new team-mates after successfully passing routine medical checks.

Figueroa arrives at Boca on loan until June 2009 as the replacement for veteran striker Martin Palermo, who has been ruled out until February with torn cruciate ligaments in his right knee.

The 27-year-old Figueroa, who joined Genoa in the summer of 2006 from Boca's arch-rivals River Plate, was scheduled to undertake his first training session on Wednesday evening.

"He has passed the tests," Boca president Pedro Pompilio told TyC Sports cable channel. "I saw him dressed as a player so I think he will start training even this evening."

Figueroa added that he is in good shape despite being frozen out at Genoa at the start of the Serie A season.

"I've been training with Genoa until four or five days ago," he said. "I had a one-and-a-half month pre-season. I am physically fine and I only need some football practice."

Boca have suffered three defeats in a row in the Apertura tournament and lie sixth in the standings on 14 points, eight below leaders San Lorenzo, but Figueroa insists he is ready for the challenge ahead.

He said: "I am very happy for being at Boca. We are not in a good moment but I hope I can get used to Boca as soon as possible and pay back their confidence with goals.

"I will defend the Boca shirt with all my heart."

Figueroa will likely make his Boca debut in the Superclasico against former club River on October 19.