Roma bag Baptista

Brazilian makes £7.1m move to Italy

By Nadia Carminati   Last updated: 15th August 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Roma bag Baptista

Baptista: Four-year deal

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Roma have announced the signing of Real Madrid's Brazilian midfielder Julio Baptista.

The 26-year-old moves to Serie A in a deal worth €9million (£7.1m), plus additional bonuses depending upon Roma's success over the next three years.

It had been reported the deal had broken down with Roma rumoured to be unwilling to meet Baptista's wage demands.

However, the Brazil international has now put pen-to-paper on a four-year contract with the Giallorossi.

Transfer saga

A statement on Roma's official website said: "An agreement has been reached for the right to sign Julio Baptista."

The move brings to an end a lengthy transfer saga, with Roma chasing Baptista's signature for the majority of the summer.

Baptista joined Real Madrid from Sevilla in 2005, but never truly settled at the Bernabeu.

He spent a spell on loan at Arsenal in 2006/07, where he scored 10 goals in 35 appearances before returning to Real.