Juventus signs teenage starlet Mandragora from Genoa

Rome - Italian champion Juventus on Tuesday announced the signing of 18-year-old midfielder Rolando Mandragora from Serie A rivals Genoa.

(Courtesy: Juventus)

Mandragora, tipped as an Italy star of the future, has signed a five-year contract with Juventus but will remain on loan at second-division Pescara until the end of the season.

Juventus, who is seeking a fifth straight Serie A title, paid an initial €6 million ($6.5 million) for Mandragora although the transfer fee could rise to €12 million ($13 million) depending on his success with the Turin giant.

Mandragora has drawn comparisons to Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, who came through the Pescara academy before joining PSG in 2012.

Mandragora made a handful of appearances for Genoa in Serie A last season and has been capped six times by Italy's under-21 side.