Espanyol snatches Piatti from Valencia on season-long loan

Valencia winger Pablo Piatti joined Espanyol on a season-long loan Saturday in a bid to earn more playing time ahead of the upcoming La Liga campaign.

Piatti couldn't capture a spot in Valencia's starting XI under Gary Neville, and the arrival of Nani put the Argentine even further into the background.

Espanyol has the option of making the move permanent at the end of the season.

The 27-year-old has played for Los Che for the past five seasons. He will now feature for an Espanyol side that's looking to build on a 13th-place finish.

The Catalan club has already reinforced its ranks with the signings of goalkeeper Roberto, wingers Jose Antonio Reyes and Jose Manuel Jurado, and forward Leo Baptistao.

Piatti failed to score a single goal in La Liga last season. His last league strikes came against Real Sociedad in March 2015.