Taarabt available on loan

Taarabt available on loan

Published Jul. 14, 2013 7:15 a.m. ET

Roma have completed the signing of Morocco international defender Mehdi Benatia from Udinese for 13.5million euros.

Benatia, 26, has signed a five-year contract at the Stadio Olimpico following three seasons with Udinese in which he made 72 league appearances, scoring five goals.

With permission from his former club, Benatia was allowed to train with his new team-mates in Trigoria on Saturday before the deal was ratified.

A statement published on asroma.it also confirmed the transfer of midfielder Valerio Verre and striker Nicolas Lopez, both 19, to Udinese.

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Roma have received 2.5million euros for Verre with the sale of Uruguayan Lopez netting the capital club one million euros.

Verre failed to make a senior appearance for the Giallorossi but Lopez scored a late equaliser in a draw with Catania on his league debut last August.

The recently-relegated club have no plans to sell their talented Moroccan midfielder but Sky Sports understands that QPR are happy for him to spend time away from Loftus Road.

The 24-year-old who joined Rangers on loan from Tottenham in July 2009 - before signing permanently 12 months later - could remain in England.

As a teenager he spent time with French club Lens and this latest news may spark interest from his former boss Mark Hughes who became the new Stoke manager at the end of last season.

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