Barça bring in Juventus pair
Friday, July 21, 2006
Article summary
FC Barcelona have signed Juventus defenders Gianluca Zambrotta (pictured) and Lilian Thuram in a transfer reported to be worth a combined €19m fee.
Article body
UEFA Champions League holders FC Barcelona have signed defenders Gianluca Zambrotta and Lilian Thuram from Juventus for a fee rumoured to be in the region of €19m.
World Cup excellence
The players, who were on opposing sides in the FIFA World Cup final earlier this month and were both included in the tournament's all-star team, move to Catalonia following Juve's relegation to Serie B. Italian international Zambrotta, 29, has inked a four-year contract, with the Spanish champions paying a reported €14m to secure his services, while the 34-year-old Thuram, who has agreed a two-year deal, joins in a €5m move.
Gudjohnsen purchase
The pair become Barça's second and third summer signings following the acquisition of Icelandic international Eidur Gudjohnsen from Chelsea FC. Thuram and Zambrotta, together with the rest of the Barcelona squad who were involved at the World Cup, will join their new team-mates for a pre-season tour of Mexico and the United States. Their former Juve colleagues Fabio Cannavaro and Emerson will be Primera División rivals having linked up with ex-Bianconeri coach Fabio Capello at Real Madrid CF on Wednesday.
