Last January Roma completed a deal for Newell’s Old Boys’ teenage centre-forward Ezequiel Ponce that saw the 18-year-old return to Rosario until the end of 2015. With playing time in the Estadio Marcelo Bielsa limited, Roma have decided to bring Ponce to Italy ahead of time and on Sunday the player landed at Fiumicino airport to confirm the transfer.

When Roma decided to pay close to €7 million for Ponce in January for somewhere around 70% ownership of the player, the 17-year-old had burst into the Newell’s side and looked destined for great things after a series of powerful displays that belied his age. Alfredo Berti had given Ponce his first-team debut at sixteen after watching him plunder 35 goals for the youth side during the 2012 season. Injury hampered his progress and after a series of managerial changes in Rosario, Ponce has found it difficult to get minutes in the Primera.

Roma have obviously been aware of his status in the Newell’s squad and with it doing little to aid his development have now brought him to Italy some months earlier than expected. The 18-year-old arrived in Rome on Sunday morning and was going to watch his new side take on Serie A champions Juventus.

Given his lack of first-team action, it is supposed that it is a deal which satisfies Newell’s also. The will receive 30% of any future fee and the departure of Ponce means that Lucas Bernardi can go back into the transfer market. A potential loan move for River Plate youngster, Lucas Boyé is strongly rumoured with Bernardi obviously of the mind that he will have much more of an effect on the side.

At 18 years of age and with less than 30 first-team appearances it is hard to see Ponce having an immediate impact in Rome. Rudi García and the Giallorossi will know that they have signed a player of enormous potential but cannot expect him to replace Edin Dzeko when the Serbian striker is absent.