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Ashley Cole has agreed a three-year mega-money contract with Roma, writes Neil Moxley in the Sunday People.

The former England and Chelsea defender, who is a free agent, has landed a deal worth more than £6million a year.

Left-back Cole, 33, flew to Italy on Saturday to tie up the move.

He was considering offers – thought to be from Monaco and North America's Major League Soccer – but Roma’s was too good to refuse. It is only just shy of the £130,000-a-week he earned with Chelsea.

Cole has been linked with several of the Blues’ Premier League rivals.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, who knows him from his time at Stamford Bridge, is on the hunt for a left-back and had weighed up a move.

Champions Manchester City were also in the frame while Cole returning to Arsenal, whom he left in controversial circumstances in 2006, was touted.

Other top European sides, including Real Madrid and AC Milan, also kept tabs on the situation.