Liverpool complete Aquilani deal
Saturday, August 8, 2009
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Liverpool FC have moved quickly to replace Xabi Alonso by completing the signing of Italy midfielder Alberto Aquilani, 25, on a five-year contract from AS Roma for a reported fee of €23.5m.
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Liverpool FC have moved quickly to replace Xabi Alonso by completing the signing of midfielder Alberto Aquilani from AS Roma for a reported fee of €23.5m.
Ankle operation
The 25-year-old has penned a five-year contract with the Premier League club and will, when fit, help fill the void created by Alonso's move to Real Madrid CF earlier this week. Aquilani, who scored nine goals in 102 Serie A appearances for Roma, has not played since 11 March when he featured in the Giallorossi's penalty shoot-out loss to Arsenal FC in the first knockout round of the UEFA Champions League and he is not expected to be fully fit for another four to eight weeks following an ankle operation in May.
'Rehabilitation'
A statement on the Liverpool website read: "He will continue his rehabilitation under the guidance of our medical team." Capped eleven times by Italy, Aquilani becomes Liverpool's second major summer acquisition following Glen Johnson's move from Portsmouth FC.