Mexes to pen Roma contract
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Philippe Mexes is set to commit his future to Italian giants Roma on Friday by signing a new contract.
The Frenchman is only presently tied to the club until June 2008, but the Milan and Real Madrid target has been in extension talks with the Giallorossi for the last month.
According to reports in the capital, the defender will meet officials again later today where he will pen a new four-year deal worth £1.7m per season.
Such an action will end mass speculation over his future which did suggest that Mexes was initially unhappy with the club’s introduction of a £1.7m salary cap – which is not valid for Francesco Totti.
However, the 2004 signing from Auxerre has insisted recently that he wanted a Rome stay by underlining the fact that he felt like a Roman and a Romanista.
Teammate Cristian Chivu has been offered the same contract, but the Romanian has refused the offer by insisting he wants a deal worth £2.8m a season.
As a result, Chivu is close to signing a five-year contract with Italian champions Inter, who it seems have a £2.5m a year deal already lined up for the 26-year-old.
Roma are looking for an alternative to Chivu, a reported target for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan and Juventus in the past, and may make a move for Silveira Juan of Bayer Leverkusen shortly.