Roma and Paris Saint-Germain have ironed out the final details of Leandro Paredes’ transfer to the Stadio Olimpico.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the 29-year-old will travel to the Italian capital for a medical after the Giallorossi agreed to pay around €4 million to bring him back.
Paredes earned worldwide recognition at Roma between 2014 and 2017 before moving to Zenit St Petersburg in a deal worth approximately €27m, including add-ons.
Moving to PSG in January 2019 proved a mistake as he could never find his feet at the Parc des Princes despite arriving for a massive €40m as one of the finest deep-lying midfielders.
He spent last season on loan at Juventus, hoping to reignite his career after being deemed surplus to requirements in Paris, but things went sideways for him in Turin.
With Massimiliano Allegri preferring Adrien Rabiot and Manuel Locatelli in his midfield double-pivot, the 2022 World Cup winner was reduced to a marginal role, failing to convince the Italians to take up the buyout clause.
Juventus decided against triggering the €22.6m option, opening the door for Roma to take Paredes back to Serie A for a significantly lower sum, courtesy of PSG’s desperate bid to offload their unsettled star.
But since the Argentine’s career has been in freefall over the past few years, Roma will tie him down to a two-year contract with an option to extend for a further season.
Paredes’ imminent arrival indicates that Nemanja Matic’s brief spell in the capital has expired amid growing speculation linking the ex-Manchester United midfielder with a move to Rennes.
Despite being considered indispensable by Jose Mourinho, the 35-year-old is determined to join the Ligue 1 side after agreeing a multi-year contract at Roazhon Park.
Matic’s departure could accelerate another incoming transfer at the Stadio Olimpico.
Another PSG misfit could keep Paredes company at Roma next term, with Mourinho continuing to pursue a deal for Renato Sanches, who has no future in France after a dismal first year in Paris.
