OFFICIAL: Berndardeschi renews his contract with Fiorentina through 2019

After a couple weeks of positive whispers surrounding the situation, the good news has finally arrived today: Federico Bernardeschi will stay with Fiorentina under an improved 4 year contract, which should see him as a staple in the first team this coming season.

The financial details of the contract are still unclear, but Bernardeschi will certainly be on much higher wages, and will have almost definitely spoken with Paulo Sousa about his role in the team. The new contract silences voices that linked the youngster with moves to Juventus or Sassuolo.

Last year Bernardeschi finally started breaking into the first team after a loan spell in Serie B the season before, only to be sidelined by a broken ankle for nearly six months. The Carrara-born attacking talent and Italian U-21 international has been with the club since 2004, and starred with fellow renewee Khouma Babacar in the Primavera.

Babacar was confident Bernardeschi would stay, and Bernie's decision to take the number 10 jersey seems to indicate that the 21 year old hopes to make a big impression this season. He looked sharp in his limited minutes alongside Giuseppe Rossi and the same Babacar in New Jersey Tuesday night, and the Viola faithful will be watching to see how he gels with the attack tomorrow in Connecticut.

I recommend restrained reactions people. Let's not get ahead of ourselves with this young "jewel." Wait, never mind. Let's totally party.