Valencia draft in Moretti
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Article summary
Valencia CF have agreed to sign Italy Under-21 defender Emiliano Moretti from Parma AC on a five-year contract.
Article body
Left-back options
The Spanish champions have paid a reported €3m for Moretti, who was due to fly into Valencia this evening to complete the deal. The Italian Under-21 international will provide coach Claudio Ranieri with a second option at left-back, where the veteran Amedeo Carboni played so impressively last season.
Bologna spell
Carboni, 39, has inked a two-year contract extension but with Fabio Aurélio still recovering from knee surgery, Ranieri was keen to have another player to fill that position. Moretti, 23, spent the last two campaigns on loan at Bologna FC and has also had spells at AC Fiorentina and Juventus FC.
Under-21 success
A member of the Italy team that won this summer's UEFA European Under-21 Championship, he becomes Ranieri's fourth Italian signing after the arrivals of Stefano Fiore, Bernardo Corradi and Marco Di Vaio, the last of whom was signed yesterday.
