Amauri heads for Juve

[TheGift]

Juventus have signed Brazilian striker Amauri from Palermo and sold Italian midfielder Antonio Nocerino to the Sicilians, the Serie A clubs said on Friday.

"Amauri belongs to Juventus," said Juve's website, ending weeks of speculation. "Today the Brazilian forward signed a four-year contract."

Amauri, who is acquiring an Italian passport, scored 15 league goals last season and was much in demand, with AC Milan and clubs in England also interested.

Juventus were always front runners to sign the 27-year-old but a complicated transfer has taken weeks to conclude.

They will pay 22.8 million euros while Palermo will spend 7.5 million euros on the gritty Nocerino, who has one Italy cap and has also agreed a four-year deal.

"When I came to Italy eight years ago, it was my dream to play in a big club. Today it came true," Amauri told a news conference.

Amauri is expected to be one of four Juventus strikers next season. The Turin club are in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers following their third-placed finish in Serie A.

Juve striker Alessandro Del Piero was the league's top scorer with 21 goals with team mate David Trezeguet on 20.

Vincenzo Iaquinta, who missed out on Italy's UEFA EURO 2008 campaign through injury, is the other out-and-out striker on Juve's books but media reports have linked him with a move away.

Palermo director of sport Rino Foschi said he expected Juventus's Italy Under-21 striker Davide Lanzafame, who was on loan at second division Bari last season and had been linked to West Ham United, to move to the Sicilian club in July.

Palermo have also signed playmaker Fabio Liverani, a free agent after his contract with Fiorentina expired this month, on a three-year deal, they said their website.

FIFA.com - Amauri heads for Juve