Imminent Newcastle signing Antonio Barreca met his teammates for the first time at the club’s Benton training headquarters as he completed a move worth a potential £8.7million, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
The Sky Sports correspondent reported on his personal website that the left-back, 23, was set to greet the Magpies players on Wednesday morning, undergo a medical and sign a contract with the club.
Di Marzio explained that the deal will cost Newcastle a loan fee of £800,000 with a view to a permanent deal in the summer window if they pay the £7.9million buyout clause agreed with Monaco.
OPINION
Barreca is heading to Newcastle’s headquarters at a time when the mood will be the brightest it has been for some time. The players will still be on cloud nine after Tuesday’s barely believable win over Manchester City. Few gave Rafael Benitez’s side a prayer after they went behind to Sergio Aguero after 24 seconds, but the stunning 2-1 triumph eases relegation fears and will make it easier for the anticipated new arrivals Barreca and Miguel Almiron to get their feet under the table. Barreca will provide cover at left-back, and would have expected to slot straight into the team before the win against City. But Matt Ritchie might have given Benitez food for thought with his performance at left wing-back, scoring the winning goal as Newcastle ended a run of 22 meetings without a win against City. Barreca will now be signed and registered in time to make his debut in Saturday lunchtime’s clash against Tottenham.