The Argentine signed a five-year deal with the Bianconeri as they aim to make a challenge in the Champions League next season – Bet on Juventus with Bet365 Sports!
(Image credit: Juventus)
Higuain becomes the third most expensive player in the world after Juventus owners – the Agnelli family – shell out a massive €90 million to sign the former Real Madrid striker. “Juventus Football Club can today (Tuesday, July 26) confirm that it has purchased the registration rights of Gonzalo Higuain for €90 million, payable in two financial years,” Juventus’ official website said.
| Top 5 Most Expensive Players | From | To | Year | Transfer Fee (Euros) | Transfer Fee (British Pounds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gareth Bale | Tottenham Hotspur | Real Madrid | 2013 | €100+ million | £85+ million |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Manchester United | Real Madrid | 2009 | €94 million | £80 million |
| Gonzalo Higuain | Napoli | Juventus | 2016 | €90 million | £75 million |
| Neymar Jr. | Santos | Barcelona | 2013 | €87+ million | £73+ million |
| Luis Suarez | Liverpool | Barcelona | 2014 | €82 million | £65 million |
(Source: Sky Sports)
The 28-year-old scored a total of 91 goals in 146 appearances during his three-year stay with the Gli Azzurri, and this includes a whopping 38 goals last season alone. By netting 36 goals in Serie A in his final year with Napoli, Higuain broke a record that has stood for 66 years – Swedish striker Gunnar Nordahl scored 35 goals in the 1949/50 season for his then club Milan.
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With their latest acquisition, Juventus have taken their summer spending to over €157 million as they bid to make a greater push in the Champions League next season. Massimiliano Allegri has splashed out €32 million on Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic (AS Roma), €23 million for Croatian winger Marko Pjaca (Dinamo Zagreb) and have also decided to permanently sign French-born Gabon international Mario Lemina after a successful loan spell from Marseille for €9.5 million. The Juventus boss has also decided to add further depth in defence by agreeing to take Bayern’s defender Medhi Benatia on loan for a fee of €3 million, with the option to buy him permanently for another €17 million at the end of the 2016/17 season.
Backed by the ultra-wealthy Agnelli family, Juventus are in no rush to sell off their main assets in order to finance Higuain’s transfer. Nonetheless, Frenchman Paul Pogba – their most valuable player – is set on leaving the club imminently to his former side Manchester United in what is looking to be a world record deal once the move goes through, with a transfer fee believed to be worth higher than €110 million. A portion of the money they receive from Old Trafford will undoubtedly go directly to Napoli, in efforts to reduce their debts.
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E poi… Il DELIRIO!! ?? #BienvenidoPipita pic.twitter.com/BOgv2Ajd3M
— JuventusFC (@juventusfc) 27. srpnja 2016.
In May, the Old Lady has sealed a historic fifth consecutive Serie A title and adding another championship next seasons is virtually guaranteed with them being the only major force in Italian football for the past half a decade. Juventus are the absolute favourites to retain their title next season 1.50 (1/2) per online sportsbook Bet365, and thus clinch their six straight Scudetto. Roma 6.00 (5/1) are the only side that could usurp the Bianconeri’s reign in Italy, while Napoli 8.00 (7/1) will be significantly weakened with Higuain’s departure, despite eyeing Mauro Icardi and Arkadiusz Milik replacements for him.
Juventus finished as runner-ups in the 2015 edition of the Champions League, following their 3-1 loss to Barcelona in the Olympiastadion, however last year they crashed out early in the round of 16 after losing 6-4 on aggregate to Bayern Munich. The odds for lifting their third European crown at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff next season are minimal 15.00 (14/1), while Barcelona 3.75 (11/4), Bayern Munich 5.00 (4/1), defending champions Real Madrid 5.50 (9/2) and Man City 13.00 (12/1) are all ahead of them, per online sportsbook Bet365.
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