Rennes sign Rugani and Dalbert on season-long loan deals

Rennes have strengthened their squad ahead of a debut Champions League campaign by signing two players from Serie A, with Daniele Rugani and Dalbert joining on loan.

Defender Rugani arrives from Juventus, where he made 101 appearances across all competitions and won the Italian title five times, as well as the Coppa Italia on three occasions.

The centre-back has struggled to become a first-team regular at Juve, though, making just 22 league starts across the previous two campaigns.

Rugani will now spend the 2020-21 season on loan at Rennes, as is also the case with full-back Dalbert, who has completed his move from Inter.

Thanks for everything, @DanieleRugani!

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) October 3, 2020

The Brazilian, who revealed he decided to join after speaking to former Vitoria Guimaraes team-mate and current Rennes winger Raphinha, returns to Ligue 1 having previously played in France with Nice.

“I’m happy to have had this opportunity to join Rennes,” Dalbert told the French club’s website. “I hope to have a good season with my new team-mates.

“Raphinha being here, I followed the matches of the club, it works well. I spoke with him before coming – he told me a lot of good things about the city and the club. I am very happy to be here.”

Rennes have made an excellent start to the new term, picking up 13 points from five Ligue 1 games to sit top of the table.

This season will also seem them embark on their first ever campaign in the Champions League, having been drawn alongside Chelsea, Sevilla and Krasnodar in Group E on Thursday.

[#MercatoSRFC]

 Le Stade Rennais F.C. et l’@Inter ont trouvé un accord pour le prêt d’une saison du latéral gauche brésilien Dalbert Henrique.

Degemer Mat ! 

 https://t.co/CRIIGeBiLa
—#AllezRennes#ToutDonner  pic.twitter.com/0LTuK91Bnv

— Stade Rennais F.C. (@staderennais) October 3, 2020