The striker has failed to hit the heights in Rome.
RB Leipzig will handle the Czech Republic star a chance to revitalize his career.
Bundesliga side Leipzig have signed Roma forward Patrik Shick on loan for the rest of the season.
“Roma can confirm that forward Patrik Schick has joined RB Leipzig on a season-long loan deal. Schick joins the Bundesliga club until 30 June 2020, for a fixed fee of €3.5 million”, read a statement at the Giallorossi’s official website.
The German club will pay a fee of €3.5 million, with a further €500,000 depending on certain performance-related conditions being met. If Leipzig manage to qualify for the 2020/2021 Champions League, they will have the option to make Shick’s transfer permanent for €29 million.
“I’m very happy to be a part of this great young team and I’m looking forward to my new challenge with the side,” Schick told the Leipzig website after signing. “Obviously I’ve come here to help the team and to achieve our aims together. I’m delighted everything worked out in the end.”
The 23-yea-old striker also admitted that he was in need of change of air: “I never felt completely happy in Rome, so I think it was the right move. I really needed a change of scenery. We weren’t sure until the last minute if this move was going to go through, so I was ready to join Leipzig, but also prepared in case I had to stay at Roma and fight for my place in the team.
“I wouldn’t say I ran away from Roma, but I did need a change and it was the right move for my career. It’s difficult to say why it didn’t work out, but there are many factors.
“It was a difficult start in a new adventure without pre-season training, then injuries, the big expectations, which unfortunately I did not entirely fulfil, plus the pressure I was playing under, it all made me feel trapped,” Schick explained.
The Czech Republic international joined Roma on an initial loan from Sampdoria in August 2017, having impressed with 11 goals in his maiden Serie A season. A youth product from Sparta Prague, Shick had seen a proposed move to Juventus collapse despite undergoing a medical in Turin – a saga that seemingly lingered over an underwhelming start to life in Italy’s capital.
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