Nicolas Anelka has signed for Serie A leaders Juventus on a five month loan deal from China’s Shangai Shenhua.
The Old Lady are going through a crisis in the striker department as a result of which the club felt the need to go for a loan move for a recognized striker.
The 33-year-old who also had a troubled time regarding dispute with the club along with former Chelsea player Didier Drogba, over unpaid wages, scored only three goals in 22 matches as the Chinese outfit finished ninth in the 16-team Chinese Super League.
In his 17-year career, Nicolas Anelka has represented ten clubs. A total of £86.8 million has been spent on transfers of the Frenchman:
- 1996-97: PSG
- 1997-99: Arsenal (£0.5 million)
- 1999-00: Real Madrid (£22.3 million)
- 2000-02: PSG (£22 million)
- 2001-02: Liverpool (Loan)
- 2002-05: Manchester City (£12 million)
- 2005-06: Fenerbahce (£7 million)
- 2006-07: Bolton (£8 million)
- 2008-12: Chelsea (£15 million)
- 2012- : Shanghai Shenhua (Free transfer)
- 2013- : Juventus (Loan)
Anelka has been linked with a move to Premier League outfit West Ham while Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp was keen to bring the striker at Loftus Road in January.
Vincenzo Iaquinta and Sebastian Giovinco are already injured while Arsenal loanee Nicklas Bendtner could be out of action for two months due to thigh injury.
Beppe Marotta, the Juventus general manager, feels the deal is a good move and the deal could be extended for the Frenchman if things go well. He was quoted in the press:
“It can be a good move for the short term, then at the end of the season we’ll evaluate what must be done.
“He is filling a hole. It is a five-month contract with an option for the second season, if things go well.
“Anelka’s arrival rules out any other transfers, because in this stage of the transfer window there are no other opportunities.”
Juventus have signed Athletico Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente but the Spaniard will be joining the club after the end of the season.
The France international has scored 200 goals in his career in all competitions in five different leagues with over 600 appearances under his belt.
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