QPR sign Italian veteran Tommasi

Tommasi is heavily involved with charity work

Queens Park Rangers have signed former Italy midfielder Damiano Tommasi until the end of the season.

The 34-year-old was a free agent, following his release by Spanish side Levante during the summer.

The former Verona player was with Roma between 1996 and 2006 and played in the 2002 World Cup.

Rangers manager Iain Dowie told the club's website: "He has played at the highest level and to have a player of that calibre can only be good for QPR."

606: DEBATE He insisted on taking youth player wages when coming back from a horrific knee. Sounds like a really nice bloke RblockShepherdsBush

Tomassi, who is heavily involved with charity work, played for Roma for €1500 (£1,200) a month, the minimum allowed by Italian law, by choice in 2004/05 while recovering from a serious knee injury.

Dowie added: "We've got some fantastic young talent in the squad and training with someone of Damiano's stature will of huge benefit to them.

"In the short term, he could prove to be very useful to us."

Tomassi won 24 caps for Italy, scoring one goal.