Roma to use Sassuolo to secure Barca star

Roma swooped for Barcelona striking starlet Antonio Sanabria several weeks ago but they need help from Sassuolo to complete the deal.

Antonio Sanabria was a target for a host of European clubs and Roma pulled off a massive coup to land him but they have had to overcome some red tape to reel him in.

The Paraguayan decided to leave Barcelona to seek first-team opportunities elsewhere and was strongly linked with Arsenal before Roma swooped.

Roma agreed to pay Barcelona £3.7m for Sanabria, thereby activating his release clause, which could prove to be a massive bargain for the Eternal City side.

However, the 17-year-old's move has caused some added complications as Roma have filled their quota of non-EU players for the season.

Sport claims that Sanabria will receive a contract until 2017 at the Stadio Olimpico but first he will be loaned out to Sassuolo to get around that problem.

Serie A minnows Sassuolo have done a good job of acting as a farm club for bigger sides and currently have Juventus star Domenico Berardi on a co-ownership basis.

Sanabria has impressed for his country at Under-17 and Under-20 level and made his full debut in August 2013 in a 3-3 draw with Germany.

image: © Damien Cansse