Juventus have completed the signing of Liverpool midfielder Alberto Aquilani on a season-long loan deal.
Aquilani signed from AS Roma in a £17m deal last summer, and he was expected to make a big impact at Anfield. However, as was the case during much of his time at Roma, injuries played a decisive factor in Aquilani being unable to meet those expectations.
The Italian didn’t make his first appearance for Liverpool until late October, and he wasn’t able to establish himself as a regular name in the starting XI, making only nine Premier League starts. He scored his first goal for the club in a 4-1 win over Portsmouth on 15 March, and he would finish the season with two goals and six assists in 26 appearances.
There were performances late in the season that showed what he‘s capable of and that he was finding his feet in the Premier League, like a three-assist haul in a 4-0 away rout of Burnley on 25 April. However, instead of keeping the talented, yet injury-prone midfielder in his ranks, Roy Hodgson has decided to let him return to his homeland.
A statement on Liverpool’s official site confirmed the transfer, saying, “Liverpool and Juventus have agreed a one-year loan deal for Alberto Aquilani.”
“The midfielder will undergo a medical in Italy on Monday.”
Aquilani played in both of Liverpool’s Europa League ties against Macedonian side Rabotnicki, but he didn’t take part in their playoff round tie against Trabzonspor on Thursday, so he could yet be available to feature for Juventus if they make the group stage of the Europa League, which they look set to do after a 2-1 away win against Austrian side Sturm Graz in the first leg of their playoff round tie.
In his time at hometown club Roma, where he made his debut under current England manager Fabio Capello in May 2003, Aquilani made nearly 150 total appearances, scoring 16 goals. The 26-year-old also has 11 caps for Italy, scoring two goals.
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