From The TimesJuly 3, 2008

Newcastle face bill for Jonás Gutiérrez
Jason Mellor and Gary Jacob
Kevin Keegan has made Jonás Gutiérrez, the Argentina player, the first significant signing of his second spell in charge at Newcastle United. It has not taken long for the winger who is also known as “Spiderman”, to spin a web of intrigue after it emerged that he is the subject of an £11.9 million compensation claim from his former club.

Gutiérrez, who earned the unusual moniker for his novel goal celebration as he dons a mask in honour of the comic-book superhero, in addition to firing imaginary webs from his wrists, has agreed a five-year contract worth about £35,000 a week to join from Mallorca. The Spanish club want compensation after claiming that Gutiérrez walked out to join Newcastle with two years of his contract remaining. Fifa, football's world governing body, has been called in to settle the situation, with the player insisting that rules allow players under the age of 28 who have been at a club for at least three seasons to buy out the remainder of their contract.

The impasse is not a threat to the 24-year-old's transfer, but the size of the fee Newcastle eventually end up paying - thought to be up to £7million - will be affected by Fifa's ruling because Newcastle are likely to share the cost with the player. “Jonás is a wonderful signing,” Keegan said. “He will be a terrific addition. I'm sure our fans will enjoy watching him.”

Gutiérrez, who made his international debut in February, will link up with his new team-mates within the next ten days. Newell's Old Boys, his first club, will receive about 50 per cent of the eventual fee. Gutiérrez will have an early opportunity to face his former club in what could be a frosty return to the Balearics when Newcastle play Mallorca in a pre-season tournament on August 3. Supporters will hope to see the Spiderman mask more regularly than their counterparts in Mallorca, Gutiérrez having failed to score last season and mustering a modest five goals in 96 La Liga appearances.