'Everything is 99% agreed' with Daniele De Rossi, says Boca president

President of the Boca Juniors Daniel Angelici said on Friday a deal to bring Italian defensive midfielder and ex-Roma legend Daniele De Rossi was "99 percent" agreed, confirming that he should be added to the Xeneize's squad in the coming days.

"De Rossi's thing is fine," he said, saying it was being managed by Boca's Sporting Director Nicolás Burdisso, a former teammate of the Italian star.

"The player expressed that he wanted to finish his career in Boca. In the next few days he will be traveling [to Argentina]," said Angelici at a press conference in which other new signings were being presented to the media.

The main concern over the arrival of the Italian midfielder is tthat Boca may have too many foreign players, since the club has several foreigners already and must fulfill a quota of homegrown talent.

Among Boca's other foreign-born players are the Colombians Frank Fabra, Jorman Campuzano and Sebastián Villa, Uruguayan Nahitan Nández, Venezuelan Jan Carlos Hurtado and Paraguayan Junior Alonso.

They can only have six in their squad with a maximum of five allowed on the pitch at any one time.

Nández especially has been tipped for a move away from La Bombonera in the coming weeks, with Italian side Cagliari said to be preparing an offer.

"I'm not stopping the arrival, it's all agreed with De Rossi. He's going to come and they're going to start saying that Boca brought it without having the quota, "Angelici told TyC Sports.

Another possibility is that in the coming days the Colombian Frank Fabra will receive Argentine citizenship, which could free up another spot for De Rossi, 35.

"Having a world champion who says he wants to finish his career here in Boca fills me with pride, it's good for Argentine football to have those players," said Angelici.

"De Rossi is going to be a Boca player," he added,

- AFP