Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero on a three-year deal following weeks of speculation after the 28-year-old’s contract with Sampdoria ended. Romero described the move as a “dream come true” but it remains to be seen whether he will remain as a backup keeper at club level or finally take the number one spot.

Upon confirming the deal late on Sunday night, Romero told the Manchester United official website: “I am absolutely delighted to join Manchester United. To play for the biggest club in the world is a dream come true for me. Louis van Gaal is a fantastic manager and I cannot wait to get started on this new and exciting challenge in my career.”

Romero knows van Gaal well after the dutchman brought him to Europe in 2007 while managing AZ Alkmaar. A difficult first season in the Netherlands meant Romero spent a lot of time on the bench but the following season he established himself as Van Gaal’s number one as Alkmaar were crowned Eredivisie champions for only the second time. Romero kept 18 clean sheets in that campaign and the following season came close to a Dutch record after not conceding a goal for 950 minutes.

These impressive statistics and having already established himself in the Argentina national side prompted Serie B side Sampdoria to pay €2.1 million for the keeper and in his first season in helped the club back into the Italian top flight.

However, just as Romero became more and more of a permanent fixture in the Argentina starting XI despite changes of management, his status at club level declined. Eventually loaned out to Monaco, Chiquito still found himself struggling for playing time behind the Croatian first-choice keeper, Danijel Subasic and returned to Sampdoria at the end of the 2013-14 season.

Matters in Genoa had not improved after a year away but in spite of this Gerardo Martino followed all his predecessors in naming Romero his first-choice for the Copa America. This run in the side saw Chiquito overtake Ubaldo Fillol as the most-capped goalkeeper in Argentine history and cement his place in national side history.

Romero’s greatest successes have undoubtedly come in Argentine colours and during the World Cup in Brazil he truly announced himself on the international scene as his path with Van Gaal crossed once again. Stopping penalties by Ron Vlaar and Wesley Sneijder, Romero dumped Van Gaal’s Netherlands side out of the World Cup.

The now Manchester United manager was obviously pleased to be reunited with Chiquito: “Sergio is a very talented goalkeeper. He was a young keeper during my time at AZ Alkmaar and I am delighted he is joining Manchester United. He had a fantastic World Cup last summer in Brazil, although that is something I have put to the back of my mind! He will be a great addition to the team and I am looking forward to working with him once again.”

The likelihood is that Romero will simply replace Victor Valdes as backup to David De Gea but with rumours still abound that Real Madrid are targeting the United number one, there is the possibility that Chiquito will be of even greater importance. Hopefully even as a number two, Romero will see plenty of game time as he has spent too long on the bench for such an established international footballer. This move to one of Europe’s biggest club sides is his chance to showcase his talents at another level.