Juventus nabs Nicolas Anelka from Shanghai on five-month deal
Juventus have signed French striker Nicolas Anelka from Shanghai Shenhua on a five-month rolling contract, according to club president Beppe Moratta.
Juventus have signed French striker Nicolas Anelka from Shanghai Shenhua on a five-month rolling contract, according to club president Beppe Moratta.
The former France international, 33, becomes the Serie A champions’ second big-name signing in a week after the capture of Spain international Fernando Llorente, who will join the club on July 1.
“I’m really happy to be here,” Anelka told reporters after arriving in Turin by private jet.
Moratta told Sky Sport Italia that the signing was “not official yet”, however television pictures showed Anelka meeting and shaking hands with club officials.
Marotta said: “It was an emergency situation and we needed some extra firepower up front. We have tied Anelka to a five-month deal.
“He can be a good short-term solution for us and at the end of the season we’ll evaluate the situation.
“It is a five-month deal but with an option for the second season, if things go well.”
Just how Anelka slots into Antonio Conte’s squad remains to be seen. The Juventus coach has several established strikers in Mirko Vucinic, Sebastian Giovinco and Fabio Quagliarella, as well as Alessandro Matri and Nicklas Bendtner.
And Anelka’s chances will also be hampered by the fact he may not yet be match fit. Recently, he spent a week training with former club Paris Saint Germain.
Marotta added: “He will be available for the squad and then it’s up to Antonio Conte to decide how to use him. After all, he is not 100 per cent fit as he hasn’t played for a month.”
Anelka, who began his career at PSG, also played for Arsenal, Real Madrid and Chelsea, among others, before a big money move to Shanghai where, according to reports from France, he was bored in the Chinese top flight.
ANSA news agency said Anelka was not expected at Juventus Stadium for their match against Genoa on Saturday and that he would undergo a medical on Sunday.
