Croatian hitman Mario Mandzukic completes switch to Juventus
The 29-year-old striker completed a medical in Turin yesterday before putting pen to paper on a four-year deal with the Italian champions.
Mandzukic becomes Juve’s third summer signing following the arrival of Argentinian forward Paulo Dybala from Palermo and Sami Khedira’s move from Real Madrid earlier this month.
“Juventus have always had exceptional players,” Mandzukic said. “I’ve played against them and against Italy many times.
“They’re a tough team with great quality. That is why I’m really delighted to be a part of this group now.”
Mandzukic joined Atletico last summer from Bayern Munich and scored 20 goals in 43 games for the Spanish side. Juve were keen to strengthen their attacking line with Argentinian forward Carlos Tevez expected to leave the club this summer.
Atletico have been quick to replace Mandzukic, signing Argentinian striker Luciano Vietto from Villarreal in a €20m deal.
Meanwhile new coach Rafael Benitez has said Real Madrid will be bringing in more reinforcements this summer, but has not divulged who they might be or which players might be on their way out.
Real have already drafted in Brazilian pair Danilo and Casemiro from Porto this month — the latter returning from a loan spell — and in his first interview since his unveiling, Benitez says more additions are on the way.
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is somebody who has been heavily linked with a move to the Bernabeu, but Benitez is keeping specifics to a minimum about the club’s activities in the transfer market.
“Of course there will be,” Benitez told his club’s official website, when asked about new arrivals.
“Danilo and Casemiro, for example, are players that will be very important and the club works every day to try to increase the level of this team with other signings that will help us face the challenges that await us.
“But to improve the current Real Madrid side is enormously difficult. This team has won it all and has proved the level it has.”
Inter Milan have won the race to sign France midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia from Monaco — gazumping rivals AC Milan. The 22-year-old was undergoing a medical in Milan last night after the Nerazzurri announced they had reached an agreement with the Ligue 1 side for Kondogbia’s permanent transfer, with the fee reported to be €40m.
Inter’s city rivals AC Milan had been in talks to sign the France international, who has also been linked with a move to Real Madrid, Manchester City, Arsenal and Juventus after two strong seasons with Monaco.
“We had the deal done on Saturday,” AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said to Gazzetta dello Sport. “Monaco had given us the all-clear for the sale at €40m. “The agreement with Geoffrey had already been sorted out the night before and was confirmed that same morning by him and his father. After we exchanged the documentation, at 1.30pm everyone disappeared.
“Evidently they changed their minds or the others offered more.”
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Jose Reina will undergo a medical in Rome today as he closes in on a return to Napoli. Reina, 32, played for Napoli in the 2013-14 campaign on loan from Liverpool before joining Bayern Munich on a permanent transfer last summer.
Reina, who is under contract with the Bundesliga champions for another two seasons, joined Bayern as a back-up to Manuel Neuer and made just three appearances this season.
“It has been a difficult year,” Reina said to the Italian press. “I really expected to play more.”
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