Iconic former Roma captain Daniele De Rossi has agreed a contract with local giants Boca Juniors "until at least January," according to reports in several Italian media outlets.
The 35-year-old, who controversially departed his hometown club after 18 seasons on Roma's books, will reportedly fly into Buenos Aires this weekend to ink the deal.
Local outlets said yesterday his flight will arrive to Ezeiza international airport on Sunday.
De Rossi, a central midfielder who played 616 games for the I Giallorossi, has reportedly agreed a contract worth US$560,000.
"In the coming hours, Boca is preparing the documents for the signing of Daniele De Rossi," reported leading Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport on Wednesday, adding that his initial contract will run until January,
"At end of the week, the ex-captain of Roma will fly to Argentina" for a presentation before Xeneize fans at La Bombonera, the newspaper added, saying that Boca officials had identified De Rossi as the perfect player to lead them to Copa Libertadores glory.
Boca slumped to defeat against arch-rivals River Plate in last year's Libertadores final, which was moved to Madrid after hooligan trouble.
Meanwhile a second outlet in Italy, Corriere dello Sport, ran a story with the headline "Agreement between De Rossi and Boca Juniors."
Other outlets reported that De Rossi will wear the number 16 shirt for the Xeneize, which is currently worn by youngster Adrián Sanchez.
'I couldn't end my career without playing at Boca'
De Rossi is said to be particularly keen on the potential move, which was reportedly negotiated by Boca's sporting director Nicolás Burdisso, a former teammate of the Roma legend.
"I couldn't end my career without playing at Boca," De Rossi told Burdisso, according to reports.
The defensive midfielder hasreviously expressed his awe of Boca and the club's stadium publicly.
The eye-catching move is already being commented upon in Italy, with former World Cup-winning coach Marcelo Lippi giving his opinion.
"He is a decisive player, a decisive player of excellent quality, a midfielder who can help in the defensive phase, he can help in the midfield and in the offensive phase," said Lippi, who picked the Italian midfielder in his World Cup squad.
"He is a player who can help all his squad, [he is] of great intelligence. I do not know how many more years he will play, but it will surely be very important for Boca Juniors," he told a local radio station.
"The Boca fans should receive him well. He is a very serious, important, very decisive person, a player who will always be available with all his experience and capacity for his new club," he added. "He must be accepted with great affection."
"It's probably his last experience in football and I'm glad he can do it away from Italy, but at a great club like Boca."
- TIMES/AFP
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