Toni agrees for loan move to Roma

MUNICH - Unsettled Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni will move to Serie A side AS Roma on loan until the end of the season, the Bundesliga club confirmed Thursday.

The 32-year-old, who has a contract with Bayern until 2011, made a personal request to the Bayern board to sanction the move as he is concerned about missing out on the Italy squad for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

After reportedly already undergoing a medical on Wednesday, Toni will be officially unveiled by Roma on Saturday and will be available for selection against Cagliari on Wednesday.

“Toni is exactly the type of centre forward Roma has been missing. With him in the team we can make better use of high balls,” Roma coach Claudio Ranieri told the club’s Roma Channel TV station.

Toni returns to Italy after two-and-a-half years at Bayern following his 11-million-euro (15.7-million-dollar) move from Fiorentina, during which time he has netted 52 goals in 89 competitive matches.