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Roma's Iturbe joins Xolos on initial loan deal

Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Juan Manuel Iturbe is moving for the 11th time.

On Monday, Iturbe joined Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente on an initial loan deal. AS Roma reached an agreement with Xolos in which the striker will play at the Mexican club on a temporary basis until June 30, 2018. The signing must become permanent upon the achievement of certain sporting targets.

Iturbe, who joined Roma from Hellas Verona in 2014, spent the second half of last season at Torino, where he tallied one goal and three assists through 16 appearances, 12 of which were as a substitute.

Once a footballing prodigy, Iturbe was labelled as a wonderkid. Comparisons were made to Lionel Messi. Born in Argentina to Paraguayan immigrants, he became known as the "Paraguayan Messi" and represented Cerro Porteno in the first chapter of his senior career. But the expectations were a curse. Xolos will be the ninth club of his career and Mexico will be the sixth country in which he plays.

There have been some positive moments in Iturbe's career. He helped Cerro Porteno reach the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores during his second spell at the Paraguayan club, and he did well enough at Verona to earn a big-money transfer to Roma. But, overshadowing the bright spots, he was pushed to the fringes of FC Porto and loaned to River Plate, failed to make an impact with the Giallorossi, and experienced an unsuccessful loan spell at AFC Bournemouth.

Xolos is 15th in Liga MX's Apertura with just one win from its first five games of the season.

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