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There have been rumors that Juventus are interested in a Romelu (Lukaku) this summer. While we know there is no chance of the former coming to Turin after his recent move to the Land of Toffees and Everton, we can at least say Juve have signed somebody whose name sounds a lot like Big Rom's.
Juventus have announced the acquisition of Hellas Verona midfielder and part-time fullback Romulo on a season-long loan with an option to buy next summer. Romulo is the second player in a week's time to arrive under those contract conditions, joining former Udinese midfielder/utility man Roberto Pereyra in the loan-with-option-to-buy club this summer.
Juventus Football Club can today confirm that Romulo Souza Orestes has joined the club on a one-season loan from Hellas Verona for a fee of €1 million.
The agreement provides Juventus with the option to purchase the midfielder outright at the end of the 2014/15 campaign for €6 million, an amount which would be paid over the course of three years.
This option will be automatically triggered if Romulo plays in 60 per cent or more of the team's official fixtures this season.
The 27-year-old midfielder joins on a one-season loan with an option to make the switch permanent. #BenvenutoRomulo
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) August 2, 2014
Romulo, who saw his contract purchased outright by Hellas just a month ago after spending last season in Verona on co-ownership with Fiorentina, was one of the final names left off Italy's 2014 World Cup roster by then-manager Cesare Prandelli. The Brazilian-born Romulo wasn't to head to his native land, though, despite a decent number of people thinking he deserved a spot on the Azzurri squad.
In his only year with Verona, Romulo scored six goals and dished out eight assists. That's two fewer goals than his former teammate and Roma's new €29 million man, Juan Iturbe. Take that how you want, but it's not like the 27-year-old Romulo wasn't good last season. In fact, he was good for a Verona team that was in the top third of the Serie A table for a majority of the 2013-14 season.
So, welcome, Romulo. And welcome to the loan-with-option-to-buy club. You aren't the first, you aren't going to be the last. This is a team that is
