Sampdoria have beaten fierce competition to sign Uruguayan striking starlet Bruno Fornaroli in a co-ownership deal.

The 20-year-old marksman had been a target for a number of European sides, including Lazio, Napoli, PSV and Tottenham, but Samp agreed a deal with National Montevideo.

The Blucerchiati will pay just under £2.4m for Fornaroli, who undertook a medical earlier this morning.

The man nicknamed ‘El Tuna’ will be presented tomorrow and is expected to join Walter Mazzarri and his squad at their pre-season camp in Moena within the next few days.

Fornaroli is Samp’s fourth signing of the summer after Marius Stankevicius, Marco Padalino and Daniele Dessena.

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The agent of Julio Baptista insists that the Brazilian star will only join Roma in a permanent switch, as a loan deal is impossible.

The Real Madrid man is believed to be the Giallorossi’s primary target as they look to strengthen their front line ahead of next season’s Scudetto push.

However, there is yet to be a concrete approach and talk of a loan deal seems to be unrealistic.

“For the moment nobody from Roma has contacted me and I haven’t spoken to Real Madrid,” representative Herminio Menendez told Centro Suono Sport.

“I only know what Spanish newspaper Marca says and that is that two Roma officials are expected in Madrid to talk to the Merengues.

“A transfer for Baptista is possible if Real agree but a loan is impossible. Only a permanent sale is possible and I don’t know what the fee would be.”

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Milan’s new recruit Ronaldinho has chosen his squad number for the coming season and it’s a surprising selection.

The former FIFA World Player of the Year completed a switch from Barcelona last week and has been given the warmest of receptions at San Siro.

Dinho wore the No 10 shirt at Barcelona, where he secured the Champions League title, but at Milan that number is occupied by Clarence Seedorf.

The 28-year-old refused the No 11 shirt that Alberto Gilardino has vacated after leaving for Fiorentina.

Instead, Ronaldinho has gone for the No 80 shirt to represent the year that he was born – 1980.

The demand for Ronaldinho replica shirts is overwhelming and the Diavolo are expecting record sales of personalised shirts.

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