Former Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi has joined Argentinian side Boca Juniors on a free transfer after 18 seasons in the Italian capital.
The Italian World Cup winner left the Serie A side at the end of last season, after spending his entire professional career there.
De Rossi, who made 616 appearances in 18 years in Rome, rejected a chance to move into a director's role saying “I still want to play football, it would be unjust to me if I decide to stop now.”.
The 36-year-old recently posed with a Boca shirt with his name and number and former Roma defender turned Boca technical director Nicolás Burdisso played a key role in the transfer.
#DeRossi a la prensa italiana
"No podía terminar mi carrera sin jugar en Boca" 😍💙💛💙 pic.twitter.com/fXopo7xdgh
— La12tuittera ⑫ (@La12tuittera) July 17, 2019
De Rossi arrived in Argentina on Thursday night for a medical and he's expected to train with his new teammates later today.
Boca's president Daniel Angelici says it's "good for Argentine football" to attract such a high-profile player to the league.
“To have a world champion say he wants to finish his career here fills me with pride".
¡Buenas noches, Xeneizes! 👍 pic.twitter.com/q2MfRXWbzd
— Boca Jrs. Oficial (@BocaJrsOficial) July 26, 2019
Parma and Major League Soccer leaders LA FC had also been linked with De Rossi.
