Mario Mandzukic completes Juventus switch

MILAN

Beaten Champions League finalists Juventus have confirmed the signing of Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic from Atletico Madrid on a four-year deal worth 19 million euros to the Spanish club.

With striker Carlos Tevez rumoured to be on his way to Boca Juniors, Juventus have moved quickly to bring in a replacement for the Argentinian, who scored 20 league goals for the league and Cup winners last season.

Juventus released a statement which said: "Juventus Football Club can announce that an agreement has been reached with Atletico Madrid for the services of Mario Mandzukic, who has signed a four-year contract.

"A fee of 19m euros, payable in three separate installments, has been agreed, with a potential extra two million to be added if certain performance-related targets are met."

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said last week he was happy the club had moved to capture Mandzukic, who after a mitigated season at Atletico had been a target for Manchester United.

"We signed Mandzukic because we wanted him. He's a great player and I am very happy he's here," said Allegri, who in his first season in charge of the Old Lady steered Juve to the Champions League final only to suffer a 3-1 defeat to Barcelona.

Mandzukic, who scored his country's opener in a recent 1-1 Euro 2016 qualifying draw against Italy, is one of Europe's top strikers but, having quit Bayern Munich in 2014 due to issues with coach Pep Guardiola's style of play, he then failed to completely convince Diego Simeone last season at Atletico.

With Paulo Dybala (Palermo) and Simone Zaza (Sassuolo) recently added to a Juve front line comprising Alvaro Morata and Fernando Llorente — who is being linked with a move to Monaco — Allegri expects Mandzukic to settle quickly.

But the 48-year-old coach said neither player would be a direct replacement for Tevez.

"Mandzukic has scored goals in every league, he has great character, is an international player and will do well," said Allegri.

"It's not like we have to replace Tevez. It's more a case of signing players and evaluating our playing style. Mandzukic is here, we have Simone Zaza, Kingsley Coman, Alvaro Morata and Dybala - all of whom are young, quality players."

Juve also got Sami Khedira from Real Madrid for free, signing the German international midfielder to a four-year deal as they look to strengthen what the club describes as "one of the strongest midfields in world football".

Allegri added last week he expects Paul Pogba to remain for at least one more season despite reported interest in the French international from the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.