Kovacevic returns "home"

Saint-Sebastien, SPAIN, December 26 (AFP) - Lazio's Yugoslav international forward Darko Kovacevic has signed a record-breaking five-year deal with his former team Real Sociedad, the Basque club announced here Wednesday.

Kovacevic, who has spent much of his time in Rome warming the substitutes bench, is part of a 5.5 million dollar deal although Lazio will retain 50 per cent of the player's rights.

It is the biggest transfer in Sociedad's history.

The 28-year-old Kovacevic, who also failed to nail down a regular place at Juventus, became unsettled at Lazio when Hernan Crespo and Simone Inzaghi confirmed their impressive goalscoring partnership.

Real Sociedad, who are currently in the relegation zone in the Primera Liga, last week signed Liverpool's Dutch 'keeper Sander Westerveld on a three-year deal.