Sampdoria splash out for Pazzini
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
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UC Sampdoria have signed Giampaolo Pazzini in a €9m deal from fellow UEFA Cup hopefuls ACF Fiorentina, sending his fellow forward Emiliano Bonazzoli on loan in the opposite direction until the end of the season.
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UC Sampdoria have signed Giampaolo Pazzini in a €9m transfer from fellow UEFA Cup contenders ACF Fiorentina, sending his fellow forward Emiliano Bonazzoli on loan in the opposite direction as part of the deal.
Hat-trick
The 24-year-old Pazzini has penned a contract until June 2012 with the Blucerchiati. The former Italian Under-21 international, who famously scored the first hat-trick at the revamped Wembley Stadium, joined Fiorentina from Atalanta BC in January 2005 and went on to score 25 times in 108 Serie A games for the Viola. This season only three of his 12 appearances have been from the start, however, with coach Cesare Prandelli preferring Alberto Gilardino and Adrian Mutu.
Goals
Bonazzoli, 29, has been a hit in the UEFA Cup for Sampdoria this season, scoring four times in five games, but failed to find the net in nine league outings. His move to the Stadio Artemio Franchi could become permanent in the summer. Fiorentina will face AFC Ajax in the UEFA Cup Round of 32 next month, when Sampdoria come up against FC Metalist Kharkiv.
