Bryan Robson was a man on a mission, desperate to bolster his attack as Boro looked for an immediate return to the Premier League.
But while Marco Branca arrived at Boro on the back of a sterling career in Italy at the start of 1998, Boro’s Columbian addition on this day 17 years ago was a largely unknown quantity.
Hamilton Ricard was a Colombian international who boasted an impressive goalscoring record in his homeland, 77 goals in 160 appearances for Deportivo Cali.
A powerful, battering-ram of a centre-forward, we were assured.
The £1.6m fee was a considerable outlay for a second tier club but Boro didn’t see it like that. If Ricard could reproduce his goalscoring record for Boro, it would be a snip.
“He’s strong, powerful and quick and has experience at the top level,” said a delighted Bryan Robson.
“He will bring some real quality to the squad.
“He can play anywhere across the front. All our scouts and coaching staff have been impressed with him.
“We have been quoted ridiculous fees for good players in this country, which is why I have looked throughout the world.”
Boro were sending out a message to the rest of the First Division.
They had lost just twice in their last 17 games but Robson was keen to strike while the iron was hot and strengthen a squad already boasting some real quality.
Branca arrived from Inter Milan and highly-rated Alun Armstrong joined from Stockport as Boro carried out some potent goal-getting business.
All that was required now was for Ricard to be granted a work permit.
A fee had been agreed and both parties had settled on the finer points of the contract. Ricard was said to have jumped at the chance to join Boro but now faced an anxious wait for his work permit to be given the green light.
He needn’t have worried. The deal got the go-ahead and Ricard headed for Teesside.
And although he didn’t make an instant impact like the other two strikers who joined Boro early in 1998 - Ricard scored just twice in nine appearances during the promotion run-in - he went on to establish himself as a key player in Boro’s Premier League squad, smashing 18 goals in his first season at the top level.
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