Manchester United sign World Cup Finalist Sergio Romero

Manchester United have completed the signing of 28-year-old Argentina international Sergio Romero.

The goalkeeper, who was released by Sampdoria at the end of his contract this summer, has played 62 times with distinction for his country since he made his debut for the national team in 2009.

He has already worked with Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal at AZ Alkmaar in Holland.

And the Dutchman will have particularly sharp memories of the player who kept out his Holland side in the penalty shootout in the semi finals of the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

With Victor Valdes leaving the club on bad terms and the future of David de Gea still the subject of intense speculation, Manchester United needed to improve their numbers in terms of goalkeepers in the squad and Romero is a safe pair of hands with vast experience.

He has signed a three-year deal with an option to extend for another 12 months at the end of the contract and he seemed delighted to have joined Manchester United. On completing the deal he was quoted as saying:

“I am absolutely delighted to join Manchester United,” said Romero. “To play for the biggest club in the world is a dream come true. Louis van Gaal is a fantastic manager and I cannot wait to get started on this new and exciting challenge in my career.”

Romero started his senior professional career at Racing Club in Argentina. He moved to Holland with AZ in 2007 before making the jump to Italy and Sampdoria.

There he played 72 league games before a loan move to Monaco last season. The apex of his career so far came when he reached the World Cup Final with Argentina at The World Cup before his side was eventually defeated by Germany.

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal said that the threat of losing David de Gea forced his hand in the market:

“I think that in our circumstances, with the threat that David de Gea is going to Real Madrid, we have to prepare our season and I think Sergio Romero can fulfil that because you have to handle very quickly when it may happen with David de Gea,”