saved in return of the deal the rights on Bologna's offensive midfielder Riccardo Pasi.
[3][4] Both clubs also received a paper profit on selling players for nearly €2 million (but counter-weight by VAT), in terms of contract value of the new signing (€2M; Elia for Bologna and Pasi for Parma).
Elia returned to Bellaria – Igea Marina in for the rest of 2009–10 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.
He failed to play any game but the club had to book about €450,000 in 2010–11 season as amortization for the transfer fee.
On 24 June 2011, he was bought back by Parma; co-currently Pasi returned to Bologna.