Serie A

Roma confirm €19m Destro deal

In a big statement of intent for this season, Roma have bought striker Mattia Destro from Genoa.

Genoa will receive a fee of €11.5m for Destro’s initial 12-month loan, a further €4.5m if Roma want to make the switch permanent next year and co-ownership of promising duo Giammario Piscitella and Valerio Verre. The latter will then join Siena on loan.

With the two Giallorossi men rated at €1.5m each, the total value of the deal comes to €19m. Destro arrives at Roma after 12 goals scored last term for Siena.

“Roma announces that it has signed with Genoa an agreement to acquire the temporary playing rights of Mattia Destro, for a fee of €11.5m,” read an official statement published on Roma’s website tonight.

“The agreement, filed today at the offices of the Lega Serie A, also includes the right of option to purchase the player outright, from the 2013-14 season, for a fee of €4.5m.

“With the club, Destro has signed a contract for five years, expiring on June 30, 2017. In the same operation there has also been signed with Genoa the agreement to sell outright, with a co-ownership agreement, the rights to Giammario Piscitella and Valerio Verre, with a net consideration of €1.5m for each player, for a total equity of €3m.”

Destro, plus the addition of American midfielder Michael Bradley this summer, are two really good signings for the Giallorossi. COnsidering the financial troubles that both AC Milan and Inter Milan are having, Roma might be the team best equipped to challenge Juventus for the title this season.