Barachet returns to France

After Atletico Madrid's financial troubles, French international right-back Xavier Barachet was left in search of a new club for the next season. While rumours were sending him to Dunkerque or THW Kiel, he finally chose Frech champions and VELUX EHF Champions League participants PSG Handball, signing a four-year deal with the ambitious club.

However, the 24-year-old will not join PSG immediately, but will be sent out on loan to Saint-Raphaël Var Handball for the 2013/14 season. Born in Nice, he will be returning to his native region for a short-term spell at the club which finished sixth in the French league last season.

"It's a huge satisfaction for us that Xavier will play for Saint-Raphaël next year," said Jean-François Krakowski, the curent Saint-Raphaël president.

"This aspiring recruitment shows our wishes to build the most competitive team we can in a championship which always become more challenging."

Fifth and last recruit

Barachet scored 17 goals with Atlético Madrid in Europe's premier competition last season. He is the fifth and final recruit for Saint-Raphaël this season, after Arnór Atlason (SG Flensburg-Handewitt), Morten Olsen (TSV Hannover Burgdorf), Alexander Lynggaard (Nordsjælland) and Miroslav Jurka (HC Zubří).