Serie A - Cannavaro returns to Juventus

Eurosport - Tue, 19 May 13:39:00 2009

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro will return to Juventus from Real Madrid on July 1 despite widespread anger over the move from the Serie A club's fans.

FOOTBALL 2008 Italy Fabio Cannavaro - 0

Juve, who are also interested in signing Werder Bremen playmaker Diego, said that 35-year-old centre back Cannavaro, soon out of contract at Real, had signed a one-year deal.

Fans were upset by Cannavaro leaving for Real in 2006 when they were demoted for match-fixing, while other top players such as Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon stuck with the club for their season in the second tier.

A small group of fans have protested at recent matches against Cannavaro's return after club bosses admitted they were in talks with the 2006 European and World Player of the Year.

"I am sure I will be able to convince even the most sceptical fans thanks to my hard work, professionalism and passion with which I will approach this new adventure," the World Cup winner said.

Cannavaro won two league titles in his two years at Juve, but they were both revoked in the match-fixing affair.

"Fabio is a world champion, a Ballon d'Or winner and a great man in the dressing room," Juve sporting director Alessio Secco said in a bid to calm supporter unrest.

"During the summer of 2006 the club had to sell him for urgent economic reasons."

The Turin team, who sacked coach Claudio Ranieri on Monday and are at risk of slipping out of the automatic Champions League spots with two Serie A games left, are also hoping to sign Brazilian playmaker Diego from Werder Bremen.

German media said the deal was worth around £25.5m but the transfer was still up in the air despite weeks of talks, Werder's General Manager Klaus Allofs said.

"There are still open questions that must be discussed thoroughly," Allofs said ahead of the UEFA Cup final on Wednesday against Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk.

Allofs ruled out any decision before the UEFA Cup final, for which the 24-year-old is suspended.

Diego has steered Werder to the UEFA and German Cup finals with some exhilarating performances, which also attracted interest from Bayern Munich before they pulled out of talks last week.

Reuters

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  1. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I discorvered a hot place
    ------Wealth y F inder C o­ M------ where many sexy singles- who like dating and--­ chatting there. I'm an open- minded girl with­ s---exual a--ttraction and big b---oobs. I-- am ­ Waiting 4 u

    From sexyfigfgh, on Tue 19 May 2:45PM

  2. Old Player joining a group of old players in what used­ to be the best league but now is boring and­ predictable. Every club is full of cheats and bungs,­ italy is basically where players go who are not good­ enough for the premiership or La Liga.

    How far did any­ italian team get in the Champions League?

    From Paul C, on Tue 19 May 2:31PM

  3. Buffon's wife will be happy.

    From Connie, on Tue 19 May 2:12PM

  4. washed up player in a washed up league?

    He was voted­ player of the tournament (Cannavaro the Berlin Wall) in­ the team that are 4 time world champions.

    Show some­ respect, englishman.

    From Karl, on Tue 19 May 1:43PM

  5. Italy are world champions, remember that you­ brainwashed english @#$%

    From chrisitalia90, on Tue 19 May 1:29PM
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    washed up player in a washed up league, so boring­ compared to the spanish league

    From cormac s, on Tue 19 May 1:22PM

  7. Overrated rubbish !!

    From Tim, on Tue 19 May 1:15PM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I discorvered a hot place
    ------Wealth y F inder C o­ M------ where many sexy singles- who like dating and--­ chatting there. I'm an open- minded girl with­ s---exual a--ttraction and big b---oobs. I-- am ­ Waiting 4 u

    From sexyfisgfgh, on Tue 19 May 1:03PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    chrisitalia90 You're a fool big time. Get your­ stupid Italian head out of your arse. Premier League­ kicks the @#$% out of Seria A you just need to look at­ the Champions League to figure that out. Your a said­ loser who craps for Italian football to be the best but­ those days are long over and the Home Of Football will­ sbow you who rules the World you nob end!!!!!!! Arsenal­ and Wenger match made in heaven.

    From Dannie, on Tue 19 May 1:00PM

  10. Canavaro still looks the good. Defenders can afford­ getting old. He will be a on target next year.

    From Half A Brain, on Tue 19 May 12:50PM

  11. Serie A is the best league in the world, that is why he­ is returning. He was Real Madrids best player, stupid­ spanish will only have filthy thugs like Pepe and­ Ramos. You will never see top Italian players in the­ premiership because the premiership is absolute @#$%,­ full of french and spanish immigrants. English players­ are that @#$% the managers need foreign players!!­ Cannavaro returning to Juve is good, Toni, Macheda and­ Rossi should also return to the best league serie a.­ FORZA AZZURRI

    From chrisitalia90, on Tue 19 May 12:48PM

  12. is gggggggggggggggoooooooooooooooooddddddd

    From Necula, on Tue 19 May 12:24PM

  13. chips n cheese

    From Bob, on Tue 19 May 12:17PM

  14. old peoples home for him oh,serie a will do.

    From dug.torso, on Tue 19 May 12:07PM

  15. If he plays for Juve like he did for Real, they will be­ relegated again.

    From martin, on Tue 19 May 11:50AM

  16. why didnt cannavaro stay in the first place lol....all­ about money

    From Julio, on Tue 19 May 11:49AM

  17. adios Cannavaro. my girlfriend will miss watching you­ on Sky

    From Bobo S, on Tue 19 May 11:46AM

  18. The club were in the wrong, not him ... I don't­ blame him for not wasting ONE year of a preciously­ short career in serie B, when the adventure with Madrid­ was on offer

    From Dan, on Tue 19 May 11:42AM

  19. let him retire.

    From kunle, on Tue 19 May 11:39AM

  20. who cares

    From Terry D, on Tue 19 May 11:37AM
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