Sampdoria have signed former Inter midfielder Ricky Alvarez on a contract running to the end of the season.

The 27-year-old spent the 2014-15 campaign on loan with Sunderland in the Barclays Premier League but the Black Cats chose not to sign the Argentinian permanently.

He has now returned to Italy to join Serie A club Samp, who announced the six-month deal on their official website on Monday morning.

Via the club's Twitter account, head coach Vincenzo Montella said: "Ricky Alvarez is a quality player. He knows how to get past his man and he's excellent technically."

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