Maccarone signs in

Maccarone is an Italy international

Middlesbrough's record signing Massimo Maccarone has completed his move to Teesside - and immediately pledged to outshine fellow Italian Fabrizio Ravanelli.

The £8.15m signing from Empoli was unveiled at a press conference on Tuesday after starting pre-season training with his new team-mates.

Maccarone, 22, is a full Italy international and arrives with a huge pedigree, but knows that he has a tough act to follow in the shape of Ravanelli.

"The White Feather" scored a hat-trick on his Premiership debut against Liverpool and added 28 more goals over the rest of the season.

"I know Ravanelli did very well over here and I will to try beat his record at Boro," he said.

Juninho's Boro delight

"I decided to come to Middlesbrough because it's a well known club in the Premiership. I wanted to come here in the first place and it was not difficult to choose Middlesbrough.

"It is a lot of money but I will try to do my best for the club, and as far as that is concerned, time will tell. It was not difficult because I've always liked English football and that's why I decided to come here."

Maccarone represents Steve McClaren's first major purchase of the summer after completing £2.5m deal to bring French defender Franck Queudrue to the club.

And that is unlikely to be the end of his spending with Boro having opened talks with Brazilian World Cup winner Juninho and homing in on two further targets.

Lovely thing

Middlesbrough coach Steve Harrison said: "I went to the European Under-21 championships to watch Massimo and I saw him score two great goals against England.

"That's what he wants to do, score goals. He wants to wear the number nine shirt which is a lovely thing.

"These days, young players want to play in midfield or coming away from the striker, but he wants to play right up there.

"He's sharp, he's brave and he's strong. I liked what I saw of him in that game. I like him a lot."

Middlesbrough are in talks with former favourite Juninho and are hoping to complete a deal soon.