Manchester United target Justin Kluviert signs for Roma to end hope of a move to the Premier League
- Justin Kluivert has signed a deal with Champions League semi-finalists Roma
- Kluivert joins from Dutch side Ajax after spending 11 years with the club
- It has been reported that he has joined Roma for a total of €18m (£15.85m)
- The 19-year-old winger is one of former player Patrick Kluivert’s three sons
Justin Kluivert has turned down a chance to move to the Premier League after joining Roma.
Kluivert, who was heavily linked with a transfer to Manchester United, has reportedly made the move from Ajax to last season’s Champions League semi-finalists for £15.85m.
The 19-year-old was greeted by about 500 Roma fans at Fiumicino Airport on Monday evening. The club announced the news on their Twitter account.
Justin Kluivert has made the move from Ajax to Roma for a reported £15.85million
Kluivert impressed for Ajax last season, scoring ten goals and providing five assists
He will complete a medical at Roma’s training facility on Tuesday before being unveiled to the club’s fans at the Stadio Olimpico.
Kluivert, who is one of three sons belonging to former Ajax legend Patrick, has been on the radar of a number of Europe’s top clubs for the last two seasons.
Last season he performed well for Ajax, scoring ten goals and providing assists.
The 19-year-old spent 11 years at the Eredivisie side before leaving them on Monday
His father Patrick spoke as recently as the weekend about wanting his son to stay in Holland to continue his development.
‘I personally said to him maybe it’s better to stay one more year at Ajax, to make some kilometres, to be important for the team,’ Kluivert told ESPN.
‘He’s 19 years old. He’s still young, but he makes his own decisions, and as a dad, I have to stand behind all the decisions that he makes.
Kluivert’s father, ex-footballer Patrick, had advised him to continue his development at Ajax
‘It looks like he’s going to leave Ajax. I think it’s 90 per cent sure that he’s going away.’
The move to Roma is a blow to United boss Jose Mourinho. Mourinho, a known admirer of Kluivert’s, had been interested in signing the youngster.
Mourinho was pictured giving him a hug after the Europa League final in which United beat Ajax 2-0 in Stockholm.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is understood to be an admirer of Kluivert’s
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