Nicolas Anelka poised for Juventus move

By MASSIMO MARZOCCHI
Published on 28/01/2013 01:48

CELTIC could be lining up against Nicolas Anelka, with the French stiker set to join Champions League last-16 opponents Juventus on a short-term deal.

Anelka will reportedly undergo a medical today to allow the Shanghai Shenhua player to sign a five-month deal, coinciding with the Chinese close-season. Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta Marotta said: “Anelka? In July we made some targeted investments, but now we are in an emergency situation in attack, so we moved to fix those issues, even if it is not official yet.

“He is filling a hole. It is a five-month contract with an option for the second season, if things go well.

“He will put himself at the disposal of the squad and it’ll be up to [manager] Antonio Conte to decide how to use him, considering he hasn’t played for a month.”

Juve will become the tenth club of a career which has seen Anelka rack up estimated transfer fees of almost £85million, while also scoring 14 goals in 69 caps for France.

He was part of the winning Euro 2000 squad and has won the Champions League with Real Madrid, league titles in England with Arsenal and Chelsea and in Turkey with Fenerbahce and three FA Cups, two with Chelsea and one with Arsenal.