Transfer news: Gino Peruzzi switch to Sunderland is off - reveals Paolo Di Canio

There were issues with the full-back's medical

Gino Peruzzi (GETTY IMAGES)

Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio has revealed that Argentinian full-back Gino Peruzzi will not be joining the club after all.

Just a day after the 21-year-old's current employers Velez Sarsfield claimed the deal would go through following the Black Cats' return from Hong Kong, where they are playing in the Barclays Asia Trophy, the Italian revealed the deal had been put on hold because of a problem revealed by a medical on Wearside last week.

Di Canio told the Sunderland Echo in Hong Kong this morning: "At the moment, there is no chance for Gino Peruzzi to join us."

Di Canio thought he had landed the right-back when he travelled to the north-east last week having finally agreed personal terms, only for medical tests to reveal the after-effects of a ligament injury he suffered last season.

The Italian added: "My club is not a club that can sign players with some problems.

"We are not Manchester City, who can think about buying a talented player with an injury and wait for him.

"We are not very late [in the transfer window], but I would like a player ready to join the rest of the group because the process of integration is not just physical.

"They have to understand how we play, which is not easy."

After the initial medical, Peruzzi was subsequently sent to see a specialist in Rome, and Velez were confident the programme with which he returned would address the issue and allow him to complete his move and become Sunderland's 10th summer signing.

A statement on the club's official website, http://www.velezsarsfield.com.ar, said: "As reported earlier, during the week directors (Julio) Baldomar and (Eduardo) Ordonez traveled to England with the player Gino Peruzzi to advance negotiations over the latter's transfer to Sunderland of that country.

"After agreeing contractual terms, the player underwent a medical examination, which is detailed in this report.

"The professionals found repercussions from the torn ligament Peruzzi suffered last April against Olimpo in the Copa Argentina, which prompted a three-week absence from games.

"To obtain further information about the injury and its evolution, they made contact with Dr Ricard Coppolechia, who answered their questions.

"After this, Sunderland requested permission to subject Gino Peruzzi to a final evaluation at the Villa Stuart Sporting Clinic in Rome, which is directed by the renowned Professor Pier Paolo Mariani.

"The evaluation had a positive result with Prof Mariani recommending specific work on the affected muscle area.

"Meanwhile, Sunderland had travelled to Hong Kong for some international matches, so the English club's authorities communicated their intention to sign the contract on the return of their president in the course of this week.

"Our club's entourage returned to Argentina on Sunday, anticipating that Gino Peruzzi will travel to England again in the coming days."

PA