Lopez set for Sampdoria medical

The former Barcelona player spent the latter half of last season on loan at AC Milan, scoring twice in 11 appearances.

At 28, he has become something of a journeyman, with Sampdoria set to be his eighth professional club and the fourth he has joined on loan.

"Catania announces that it has reached an agreement with Sampdoria, to be formalised after a medical scheduled tomorrow in Genoa, for the temporary assignment with right to buy in favour of the club from Liguria of the player Maximiliano Gaston Lopez," read a statement on Catania's website.

Sampdoria also confirmed the deal with a short statement on its own website.

Lopez began his career with River Plate and earned a move to Barcelona aged only 20. However, he has never settled since, later moving to Mallorca on loan before spells with Moscow and Gremio before he joined Catania in 2010.

He initially impressed, scoring 12 league goals in 17 appearances in the half-season after joining Catania in January 2010 and also finishing as its top scorer the season after, but he now appears to be expendable at the Stadio Angelo Massimino.