Spanish citizenship for Saviola

BARCELONA: Javier Saviola has been approved to receive Spanish citizenship by the country's government, FC Barcelona said on its website on Tuesday. 

Saviola still has to appear before authorities in order to officially claim his citizenship. 

Barcelona had wanted the Argentina international to get the papers so he would no longer take up a spot reserved for non-European Union players. 

Saviola, who was born and raised in Argentina, was able to get a Spanish passport through his maternal grandmother. – AP