Azzurri pair join Roma
Tuesday, August 3, 2004
Article summary
AS Roma have signed Italian international midfielder Simone Perrotta and defender Matteo Ferrari.
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Four-year contract
English-born midfield player Perrotta has joined for €7.2m, having agreed a four-year contract. The 26-year-old will take over the role of Juventus FC-bound Émerson da Rosa.
'Everything is agreed'
Perrotta began his Serie A career with Juventus before transferring to AS Bari and Chievo. He made his Italy debut against Turkey in November 2002, and played in all three of their UEFA EURO 2004™ matches, scoring in the 2-1 win against Bulgaria. Chievo director of sport Giovanni Sartori said: "Everything is agreed. Perrotta will play for Roma next season."
Shared debut
Meanwhile, centre-back Ferrari, another ex-Bari player, moves for an undisclosed fee, with 19-year-old defender Damiano Ferronetti going to Parma in part-exchange. Ferrari, who won his first cap in the same game as Perrotta and also went to EURO 2004™, will be reunited with former Parma coach Cesare Prandelli.
Olympic place
The 24-year-old will be one of three over-age players in the Italy squad at this month's Olympic men's football tournament, but Ferrari will be back in Rome for the opening UEFA Champions League group stage match in mid-September.
