Juventus splash out 37 million on signings
Reuters - Wednesday 22 June 2011, 15:24
ROME - Juventus splashed
out more than 37 million euros on Wednesday as
they made four players permanent signings, the Serie A club
announced.
The Turin club took up their option to buy out the full
contracts of Alessandro Matri, 15.5 million euros from Cagliari,
and Fabio Quagliarella (pictured), 10.5 million euros from Napoli, after
the strikers impressed last season in the Bianconeri colours.
And despite unconvincing performances the Serie A side also
completed the signings of midfielder Simone Pepe, 7.5 million
euros, and defender Marco Motta, 3.75 million euros, from
Udinese.
Juve, who finished outside the European qualifying places in
seventh position in Serie A, had already recruited left-back
Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria) and midfielders Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)
and Michele Pazienza (Napoli) but, in frantic transfer activity
since the end of the season, have so far failed to land the
big-name signing their fans have been demanding.
Italian media has reported bids for Atletico Madrid's Sergio
Aguero and Udinese's Alexis Sanchez, while the club has also
been linked with Roma striker Mirko Vucinic and Villarreal's
Giuseppe Rossi.
The absence of European football next season at Italy's most
popular club has not helped their cause in transfer
negotiations, but the club could soon possess extra funds to
bankroll further bids following a meeting on Thursday when the
board will discuss an injection of capital, reported to be
around 100 million euros.
Former midfielder Antonio Conte, who replaced Luigi Delneri
as Juventus coach last month, is also expected to raise more
cash to build a new-look Juve by selling a number of players
from a bloated squad with strikers Amauri and Vincenzo Iaquinta
the most likely to depart in the summer transfer window.