�22m Thuram Signs For Juventus
Monday 18th June 2001
France international Lilian Thuram has signed for Juventus in a �22 million deal after rejecting a switch to Lazio.
"I chose Juventus because they are the best club I have ever known," said the powerful defender, who was also wanted by Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Thuram is understood to have agreed a five-year package worth �2.2 million a season with Juve, who see the 29 year old as the natural replacement for veteran centre-half Ciro Ferrara.
Thuram added: "I will join Zinedine Zidane, a great man and a great champion, with whom I have played with the national team since we were young. And now we are also at the same club. It's a dream. He is a big player, yet he is very modest.
"I will also join David Trezeguet, who everybody knows in Italy after scoring 14 goals this season.
"I know I am playing for a team with the best defensive record in Italy and I will try to maintain that record. I hope we continue to be the best defence because, if not, everyone will say it's my fault!
"In the five years that I have been in Parma, I've tried to make them a strong team but in the end I understand that only the big clubs are going to win everything. I chose Juventus because they can help me to satisfy my hunger to win all trophies."
The former Monaco star made no secret that he intended to leave Parma in the summer after a long spell at the Ennio Tardini.
He may have preferred to join Juventus in light of recent events at Lazio, where a large contingent of racist supporters protested against the club's intentions to sign him.
