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DiBenedetto confirms Sabatini for Roma

Posted by Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff May 17, 2011 09:11 PM

AS Roma president Thomas DiBenedetto will name Walter Sabatini as sporting director for the club Wednesday, according to a source close to DiBenedetto.

DiBenedetto hopes to sign a US player for Roma and has contacted the agents of Aston Villa midfielder Michael Bradley and Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan through Sabatini, a former Roma player.

For Donovan's transfer, Roma has budgeted about 10 million euros, and the club would match his $2.3 million MLS salary, according to the source. Donovan, 29, is the US national team's all-time leading scorer with 45 goals.

DiBenedetto will become the first foreign majority investor in a Serie A club, pending approval of stock market regulators.

A release quoted DiBenedetto as saying: "We know that this is something unique in Italy. For this reason we chose the best managers available, starting by the new sporting director, Mr. Walter Sabatini, a former SS Lazio and US Palermo director, and a AS Roma player in the '70s."

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