Goalkeeper Abbondanzieri quits Boca for Brazil's Internacional

Argentina's 2006 World Cup goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri has left Boca Juniors and agreed to join Internacional of Brazil as a free agent, the player said on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old will travel to Porto Alegre in southern Brazil on Thursday to sign for his new club until the end of the year, with Boca receiving compensation of $200,000.                                           

"No one could guarantee that I'd play again," said Abbondanzieri, who was dropped last weekend as Boca try to pull out of a slump.

"In this position (goalkeeper) you have to put up with it when there is a change," he told reporters as he left Boca's Bombonera stadium. "I feel I can still do my bit and not suffer when Sundays come around."                                           

Abbondanzieri returned to Boca from a spell with Getafe in Spain hoping to end his career at the club he helped win 14 titles including six in the Argentine league, the South American Libertadores Cup three times and the world club crown twice.