Brazilian playmaker Diego has completed his "dream" move to Juventus from Werder Bremen, for a fee of €24.5m.
The 24-year-old, who helped steer Werder to the UEFA Cup and German Cup finals this season, had two years left on his contract with the Bundesliga side but had made it clear that he wanted a new challenge.
Diego's performances also attracted the interest of German giants Bayern Munich but after signing a five-year contract with the Bianconeri he said: "I'm enthusiastic about Juventus and proud to become part of such a prestigious club, which I have dreamed about since I was a child."
The Brazil international, who joined Werder from Porto in 2006, added: "After the experiences in Portugal and in the Bundesliga I will be able to measure up to football of a very high level in a difficult and very competitive championship.
"It's the right time in my career to make such an important step and I'm convinced that with Juventus I'll achieve great results."
Diego's arrival is aimed at filling the gap created by Pavel Nedved's expected retirement. Juve also hope Diego can spur them to success in the Champions League and on the home front next season. Claudio Ranieri's failure to do so cost the coach his job last week.
Juventus, who are currently in the hands of caretaker boss Ciro Ferrara, also have a deal to bring Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro back from Real Madrid despite widespread supporter opposition.
The 35-year-old centre back, soon out of contract at Real, left for Spain in 2006 when Juve were demoted for match-fixing, while other top players such as Alessandro Del Piero and Gianluigi Buffon stuck with the club for their season in the second tier.
[Soccernet]
Werder Bremen midfielder Diego has left no doubt that he will be leaving the German Bundesliga in favour of a move to Italy's Serie A by revealing: "I want to play at Juventus."
Diego has left all sorts of bodies in his wake during his time at Werder Bremen.
The Brazilian playmaker, who is under contract with the German outfit until June 2011, is being tipped as Pavel Nedved's replacement at the Turin giants.
A fee has already been agreed between the two clubs and Diego is optimistic the transfer is on the verge of being finalised.
''We are very close but there is one minor step that has yet to be taken,'' said Diego in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport.
''I have already told (Juve sporting director Alessio) Secco that I want to play at Juventus. I believe Serie A is the most beautiful and most difficult league.
''Juventus have made a point to express how much they want me and in Italy there are great players.''
Diego helped Werder reach the UEFA Cup final against Shakhtar Donetsk but will miss the May 20 game in Istanbul through suspension.
He joined Werder in 2006 from FC Porto, after beginning his career with Robinho at Santos, and quickly became one of the Bundesliga's top players - counting Bayern Munich and Real Madrid amongst his admirers.
[Soccernet]
Werder Bremen's Diego has signed for Juventus in a €25m deal, according to the midfielder's agent.
Giacomo Petralito claims the 24-year-old Brazil international has agreed a five-year contract with the Italian giants and will complete the transfer at the end of the season.
Diego has been an integral part of Uefa Cup finalists Werder's side since arriving from Porto in 2006 and he has been linked with Bayern Munich in the past.
But the player's representative, Petralito, claims his client has opted to leave Germany in order to make a big-money move to Serie A.
Petralito told Kicker: "Diego has signed for Juventus. Everything happened last Wednesday."
Diego, who is suspended for the Uefa Cup final against Shakhtar Donetsk, has scored 33 goals in 87 matches. He has also won 38 caps for Brazil and scored seven times.
[Soccernet]
His much publicised move away from the Weserstadion looks to be ever nearer, with Juventus seemingly on the verge of securing his services. There is, however, reported interest in the mercurial talent from both Inter and Bayern Munich. So what is it that makes Werder Bremen's Diego so sought after?
When Diego Ribas da Cunha signed for Werder Bremen in 2006, the fans at the north German side were in raptures. The diminutive Brazilian had started his career as a 17-year-old at Santos in his homeland, and led the team as captain to two national titles, quickly earning the reputation as one of the best young talents in world football.
Shortly after his €6 million move to Werder was announced, Bremen midfielder Johan Micoud left the club for Bordeaux, meaning that Diego had to step into some big boots as the Frenchman had led the Green and Whites to the double in 2004.
Doubters Silenced
There were, of course, those who doubted that Diego would be able to live up to the expectations. At the time he was the club’s most expensive purchase ever and while at Porto he had spent plenty of time on the bench. However, on his debut he quickly blew the cynics away, scoring one goal and setting up a further two as Werder beat Hannover.
The Complete Playmaker
Diego quickly developed into the key point around which the entire Werder team turned. Werder Bremen soon became synonymous with quick, attacking football, providing a great spectacle for the fans. And much of that was down to the Brazilian.
He was seen as the complete playmaker in the traditional style – an extremely strong dribbling with the ball and always capable of delivering the killer pass. He was also a regular scorer and not just from his deadly free kicks (he has 37 goals in 82 Bundesliga matches so far).
Spectacular Goals Flow
It wasn’t just the quantity of the goals from the boot of the No. 10, but the supreme quality of many of them. Many of Diego’s goals had the fans’ jaws dropping in amazement. His unbelievable strike against Alemannia Aachen from inside his own half in April 2007 was quite rightly voted the Goal of the Season.
Against Bayern Munich he beat Oliver Kahn with a cracking shot in October 2006, which was the Goal of the Month. In the same season, he scored another brilliant goal against Hertha Berlin in a 5-1 win, where he took the ball on the turn and hit a first-time lob over the keeper. Spectacular free kicks have also become a common sight.
Suspect Temperament
There can be no doubts about the technical abilities possessed by the Brazilian, but the one weakness that does need addressing is his temper. His South American temperament often lets him down, especially when he has been provoked. Take for example his head-butt on Frankfurt’s Sotirios Kyrgiakos last season or his attack on Karlsruhe’s Christian Eichner this season, both of which led to bans.
More recently, his stupid yellow card against Hamburg in the semi-final of the UEFA Cup has seen him ruled out of the final. Accused of diving by compatriot Alex Silva he reacted unnecessarily and, thanks to his third caution in the competition, he will miss the final that he has done so much to get Werder into. In order to become truly world-class, that is an area that needs work.
Werder Fans Understand
That one day he would leave the Weserstadion for a ‘bigger club’ was always clear and Werder fans are quite understanding of the fact that he needs to move on to pastures new. In order to become a true great and take on a leading role for Brazil in the Selecao he needs to enjoy success at the highest level. Whether he will experience the same sort of success away from the Weserstadion remains to be seen and it also remains to be seen whether Juventus, for example, will allow him to be the focal point of their team as he is at Werder.
Nobody in Bremen has any animosity towards him regarding his imminent move as he has always given his all for the club. But many will have tear in the eye as they see him play his last game for the club as they remember all the good times. Although he will miss the UEFA Cup final, victory over Shakhtar Donetsk would be in a large part down to his sublime performances in the earlier games.
His last game for Werder should be the DFB Pokal in Berlin against Bayer Leverkusen. A match-winning, cup-winning performance would be the perfect end to his time at Werder Bremen.
[Goal.com]
Werder Bremen confirmed talks with Juventus over the possible sale of Brazilian midfielder Diego on Friday but said no deal was yet in place.
Diego, 24, steered Werder to their first UEFA Cup final on Thursday, scoring once in their 3-2 win over Hamburg SV.
"There has been a meeting between Juventus and Werder. But we cannot confirm that an agreement was reached," Werder managing director Klaus Allofs said on the team's website.
The Brazilian will, however, miss the UEFA Cup final against Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk in Istanbul on May 20 after being booked for an altercation with Hamburg's Alex Silva.
"We will badly miss Diego in Istanbul," Werder coach Thomas Schaaf told reporters, adding that he was "furious" at referee Frank De Bleeckere for booking the Brazilian.
"He is an exceptional player. He helped us to get to the final and I hope the team can bring something back for him."
The gifted playmaker has been the driving force in Werder's run to the final, finding the net four times in two legs to oust Italian side Udinese in the quarter-finals.
Diego blamed compatriot Silva for the booking, which will see him miss Bremen's biggest match of the season.
"Unfortunately I cannot change things," Diego said. "(Silva) swore at me. I did not respond, I was pushed and then got booked."
"But we did a great job and we have a big enough team to win the cup in Istanbul," the 24-year-old said.
[Reuters via Soccernet]
