Sampdoria have signed former Inter attacking midfielder and playmaker Ricardo 'Ricky' Alvarez.
Alvarez, 27, was coming off an unsuccessful season-long loan stint with English Premier League side Sunderland that started September 2014, an injury-ridden spell that saw him take to the Stadium of Light pitch just five times as a starter.
A warm club welcome for Alvarez
The Argentine midfielder joins Sampdoria just ahead of Tuesday's city derby against Genoa, coming to the club on a contract that will last "until 30 June 2016," according to an official Sampdoria statement.
"President Massimo Ferrero and everyone at U.C. Sampdoria" officially welcomed Alvarez as the newest "Blucerchiati player" in the press release.
This transfer comes amid an ongoing dispute about Alvarez's loan to Sunderland, a row sparked by the Premier League side's ruling out of a permanent deal with the Argentine. Inter felt they were owed £7.5 million while Sunderland claimed the Italian club had breached the arrangement's terms by refusing the 27 year-old's right to surgery. FIFA has yet to set a date for the ruling.
A quality addition for Sampdoria
Alvarez has eight caps for Argentina's national team, and has scored one goal for his nation. He won two Clausuras with Velez Sarsfield of the Argentine Primera Division before hitting the bigger scale on the international stage.
The attacking midfielder, who has not played since deciding to undergo knee surgery in the summer, will wear a kit with the number 30 as he joins manager Vincenzo Montella Sampdoria's squad.
Where Sampdoria stands at the moment
Sampdoria currently are 14th in the Serie A table with 20 points through 17 league matches. They face a tough month ahead, with fixtures Juventus and Napoli among others in addition to city derby rivals Genoa.
With Eder currently being the lone reliable option on the attack right now for Sampdoria, Alvarez will attempt to bring some added fire to the team's goal-scoring efforts.