AS Roma confirm the signings of four Italian superstars for a total of €18m
Andrea Pirlo signs a one year deal with AS Roma after choosing not to renew his contract with Juventus
Both Sebastian Giovinco and Andrea Bertolacci will play for Roma next year after co-ownership deals were struck
Completing the Italian influx is the €8.5m signing of Catania's defender Matteo Darmian
After starting off the transfer window by fighting tooth and nail to keep their biggest names at the Stadio Olimpico, AS Roma has finally successfully delved into the market and strengthened their two-time defending Serie A championship team. Totti has not only signed four first team players; all four of them are Italy internationals.
The first deal to go through is the free transfer of Andrea Pirlo from Juventus. The Azzurri legend had agreed to a €105k per week deal through 2016, adding depth, experience, and a touch of world-class talent to Roma's midfield. Though the 107 cap man is not expected to be a regular starter, he will surely still play in many matches and fight with Nuri Sahin for the deep-lying playmaker role in the lineup.
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Legend of the Game: Andrea Pirlo, widely considered one of the greatest midfielders to ever wear an Italy shirt and friend of Francesco Totti, will spend the next season with AS Roma.
Joining Pirlo in midfield next season will be Andrea Bertolacci. The box to box player spent last season on co-ownership with Catania, scoring 1 goal and pitching in 8 assists. Impressed with the 23 year old's play, Francesco Totti bid €1.5m to re-purchase Bertolacci's other 50%, narrowly edging out Catania's €1.3m bid.
Bertolacci made his first ever appearance for Italy last season and will hope to break into both the Roma and Italy first team this season. However, he will have to beat starlet Marco Verratti in the box-to-box role in midfield for both club and country. The ex-Genoa lad will be on a €16.75k per week contract through 2017 on a two year deal.
Also joining Roma from Catania is defender Matteo Darmian. Also on 1 cap after a sturdy season last year, the 25 year old right back is known as a brilliant tackler and one on one defender, costing the Giallorossi €8.5m, their most expensive singing this summer. The AC Milan youth product, who can also play in the heart of defense, will be on €45k per week on a five year contract, expiring in 2020.
The final man to the make the trek to the Stadio Olimpico is Sebastian Giovinco. The player, previously co-owned by Juventus and Fiorentina, had a stellar season for La Viola, racking up 9 goals and 10 assists and making the Serie A Team of the Season. The diminutive striker has amassed 19 caps for Italy and is just 25 years of age, entering the prime of his career.
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Teammates Reunited: Having spent two years together at Juventus, Sebastian Giovinco and Andrea Pirlo will now be runited at the Stadio Olimpico.
AS Roma have paid €8m for AFC Fiorentina's 50% of Giovinco's contract, with Juventus still owning the other 50%. The co-ownership will last for just the following season; should Giovinco remain with the Giallorossi after this season, he will continue his €60k per week contract until it's expiration in 2020. Though not as much of an out-and-out goalscorer, Giovinco seems to be the club's replacement for Mattia Destro.
Fans have been very pleased with this relatively cheap raid of Italy players, praising the greater national spirit now surrounding the club based in the country's capital. "I'm ecstatic to have finally brought in a few high profile players to the Olimpico," said Totti at the players' unveiling. "That they are Italian is a wonderful bonus; it is always to have players that the fans will adore at the club and national level."
Totti has stressed that the club's spending is not nearly over, however; Roma are still being heavily linked with a new left back, a new center back, and perhaps even another striker. With preseason still 2 weeks away, there is still more than enough time for the Giallorossi to finish putting together their squad.
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