Ranocchia joins Sampdoria on loan from Inter

Inter defender Andrea Ranocchia has joined Sampdoria
on loan until the end of the season.

Ranocchia has fallen down the pecking order at San Siro
under Roberto Mancini and is keen to play regular first-team
football in order to make the Italy squad for Euro 2016.

The 27-year-old had been linked with Premier League duo
Liverpool and Norwich City and even Inter's bitter rivals AC
Milan during the current transfer window.

Sampdoria, though, tied up a temporary deal to bring him
to Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Thursday.

"I want to repay the faith of the coach [Vincenzo Montella]
on the pitch," Ranocchia told Sampdoria's official website.

"This a great group. I know many of the players, I have
played with some of them already for the national team. I
hope to acclimatise quickly and make my contribution."