Roma confirm 25 million euro price tag for Samuel

AS Roma sold Argentina defender Walter Samuel to Real Madrid for 25 million euros, the Serie A club said on Friday.

Samuel's move to the Spanish giants on a five-year contract was announced on Thursday but the financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 26-year-old Argentine international joined Roma from Boca Juniors in 2000.

He will join his new club on July 1. His arrival is a response to criticisms that Real Madrid's squad lacked strength at the back.

Samuel is the second player in the past week to leave the financially-troubled Serie A team following French defender Jonathan Zebina, who signed for Juventus.

Earlier this season Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport estimated Roma's debts at 250 million euros.