Alberti off to Italy Loftus Road, London Middlesex England

Alberti off to Italy

Hoops midfielder heads home

Queens Park Rangers midfielder Matteo Alberti has joined Italian side AC Lumezzane on a season-long loan deal.

The 21-year-old moved to Loftus Road from Chievo in the summer of 2008, but has struggled to make an impact in England.

He has been restricted to just 14 first-team appearances during his time at Loftus Road, making only six starts.

It appeared as though he had found his feet when he netted a spectacular brace in a 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest in February 2009, but he has failed to push on from that point.

He failed to make a single appearance for the club last season and that lack of activity has convinced him that the time has come to move on.

He will be hoping that a spell back in his homeland will help him to kick-start his career and possibly pave the way for a successful return to Rangers next summer.

His new employers, Lumezzane, currently turn out in the Italian third tier.