Roma sign Baldanzi, send Belotti to Fiorentina
It was another quiet transfer deadline day for most of the top clubs in Serie A, with only Roma and Fiorentina adding to their squads on Thursday.
Roma signed Tommaso Baldanzi from Empoli for a reported €10 million (US$11 million) plus bonuses.
Baldanzi, who will turn 21 next month, progressed through the ranks at Empoli. He was part of the Italy squad that finished runner-up at the Under-20 World Cup last year.
“Training alongside great champions will provide me with plenty of opportunities to observe and learn,” Baldanzi said. “I can’t wait until Monday to experience the atmosphere of my new stadium. For my part, I will do my best to help achieve the goals we have in front of us.”
Baldanzi is new Roma coach Daniele De Rossi’s second signing after defender Angeliño was brought in on loan from Leipzig on Tuesday.
De Rossi, a former Roma captain, took over from José Mourinho last month.
Roma also sent Italy forward Andrea Belotti out on loan to Fiorentina for the rest of the season.
The 30-year-old Belotti has had a disappointing time in Rome since joining on a free transfer in 2022. He has netted just 10 goals in 68 appearances.
Roma and Fiorentina are two teams involved in a tight battle for fourth place in Serie A.
The league title seems destined to go to Inter Milan or Juventus, who meet in a potentially decisive clash at San Siro on Sunday.
Neither club signed a player on Thursday, although Juventus completed the loan signing of Argentine midfielder Carlos Alcaraz from Southampton the previous night. Inter brought in versatile winger Tajon Buchanan early on in the window, and the 24-year-old is set to become the first Canadian to play in Serie A.
Third-place AC Milan also had a quiet transfer window, just signing Filippo Terracciano from Serie A struggler Hellas Verona last month.
Desperate to turn around a disappointing season that has involved a coaching change, Napoli were the most active of Italy’s big clubs but completed their moves before deadline day.
Mired in ninth place, last season’s champions signed Cyril Ngonge (from Hellas Verona), Hamed Traore (Bournemouth), Pasquale Mazzocchi (Salernitana) and Leander Dendoncker (Aston Villa).