In as many weeks, it appears that Middlesbrough’s Gaston Ramirez is now ‘close’ to his third club, with Sampdoria said to be on the verge of signing the Uruguayan playmaker.
The news emerged on Wednesday night from Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, suggesting that a move to Ligue 1 with Nantes isn’t on the cards any longer.
After seeing his ‘basically done’ transfer to Real Betis fall through due to Middlesbrough’s tough negotiation stance, followed by the chance of teaming up with long-time admirer Claudio Ranieri in Ligue 1 disappear because of a high asking price, Ramirez might finally be returning to Italy.
Making a name for himself in Serie A with Bologna, the 26-year-old earned himself a very expensive (at the time) move to then newly promoted Southampton, only for his time in England to consist of sporadic form, injuries and loan spells.
A temporary move to Riverside looked like the ideal place for him to put all that behind him, and after helping his new side gain promotion back to the Premier League as well as earning a permanent deal, the Uruguay international was unable to stop them avoid relegation back to the Championship last season.
Di Marzio’s report states the Italian side have had a bid of €9m + €2m accepted by Middlesbrough, with the forward signing a four-year contract worth €1m/year.
We’d say this looks like the light at the end of the tunnel for Ramirez, but, considering how things have gone the past couple of weeks, don’t celebrate/mourn his departure until he’s at his new club putting pen to paper.
