Edin Dzeko joins Roma from Manchester City on loan

"Edin joined City in January 2011 and went on to play 189 times for the Blues during his four-and-a-half year stay," read a statement on the club's website.

"A firm favourite with the City fans and backed by an adoring nation of Bosnians, ‘The Diamond’ shone brightly during his time with the Blues and will be fondly remembered for having a pivotal role in City’s glorious past five years.

"Everybody at the club wishes Edin the very best for the future and thank him for his excellent service with Manchester City."

The Bosnian international has already trained with his new team-mates at the club’s training ground in Trigoria, but could not officially complete his move until there was a non-EU slot available.

Roma loaned Antonio Sanabria to Sporting Gijon yesterday, freeing up a non-EU space for the Manchester City striker.

Dzeko joined City from Wolfsburg in 2011 and his contract with the Blues outfit ran for another three seasons.

The 29-year-old endured a difficult campaign last year, making just 12 Premier League starts for Manuel Pellegrini's side and scoring six goals.

Eurosport.it's Mattia Fontana suggests Roma fans will be delighted with the deal for Dzeko, but suggests it could be an interesting battle between he and Roma icon Francesco Totti for one spot in the starting XI:

"We must consider how old Totti is (39) and Rudi Garcia’s tactics. The manager loves to play with a 4-3-3 formation and so it’s difficult to think that Totti and Dzeko will both be used as starters. Dzeko should be the striker Roma was searching for and Totti his first replacement, as the club transitions away from their star.

"At the moment, is difficult to see Garcia playing with a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-1-2 formation (but maybe, with Mohamed Salah and Dzeko upfront…) that could allow Totti and Dzeko to play alongside each other. Then, I would also to add a personal doubt about Roma’s strategy to always be looking for a “real striker”. They failed with Mattia Destro and they failed with Seydou Doumbia (ok, they are not even close to Dzeko, I know).

"Now it’s time to see if Garcia’s tactics are made for a centre-forward or not. I honestly doubt it a bit.

"Everyone was waiting for him and Salah. Dzeko will be the star signing. But don’t forget the “Totti factor”. Since he began playing as a false nine (2005-06), he caused many troubles to good strikers like Vincenzo Montella, Julio Baptista, Luca Toni, Dani Osvaldo, Fabio Borini, Marco Borriello and Destro… They couldn’t stay in Rome for more than a season or two.

"Dzeko is the best one, but if he will not be able to settle in a short while, he will have troubles too…"

50 goals in 130 league appearances for City is a respectable number. However, a player as lavishly talented as Dzeko should have a far better strike rate than that. His inability to fully establish himself is more down to circumstance than talent, though. Ahead of him in the City pecking order was quite simply the best striker currently plying their trade in the Premier League. This reduced Dzeko to the role of understudy. He performed the role admirably and scored some important goals against all types of opposition – from dogged relegation fodder to well-equipped title challengers.

Given the chance at Roma, Dzeko will likely recapture his form from his Wolfsburg days.