Serie A giants Juventus closed the January transfer market with the purchase of striker Alessandro Matri from Cagliari as they struggle to come out their crisis.
The Turin club paid 15 million euros (20.5 million dollars) for the 26-year-old who grew up at AC Milan’s youth team and had stints at minor clubs before joining Cagliari in 2007.
As the market closed late Monday, the Bianconeri loaned off lacklustre striker Amauri to newcomers Parma until the end of season.
The naturalized Brazilian never managed to impress since arriving from Palermo in 2008 and, partly due to his frequent injuries, he has not found the net in almost a year.
Veteran forward Luca Toni arrived from Genoa in early January, but he promptly joined the team’s never-empty injured list, where Fabio Quagliarella, the team’s best striker on nine goals, is expected to sit until season’s end and Vincenzo Iaquinta is a frequent presence.
After three defeats in the last five outings, Juve also tried to patch up their defence with Andrea Barzagli, arriving from German side Wolfsburg, and let a disgruntled Nicola Legrottaglie join AC Milan.
The front—runners were quite active on the market, which they opened by signing international talent Antonio Cassano from Sampdoria.
The Devils also welcomed Dutch midfielder Marc van Bommel and Urby Emanuelson, while defender Didac Vila from Espanyol arrived this week.
Champions Inter Milan appear to have closed the market’s best deal when they bought Giampaolo Pazzini from Sampdoria for 12 million euros, plus French forward Jonathan Bibiany.
Pazzini immediately showed his worth on Sunday with a brace in a 3-2 win against Palermo and is set to vie for a place upfront with stars Samuel Eto’o and Diego Milito. He is to earn 2.5 million euros per season until June 2015.
Japan’s Asian Cup winner Yuto Nagatomo arrived from Cesena in exchange for Davide Santon to beef up coach Leonardo’s defence along with former Genoa player Andrea Ranocchia.
Moroccan midfielder Houssine Kharja is at Inter on loan from Genoa, while Brazilian Mancini left for home team Atletico Mineiro and Ghana’s Sulley Muntari moved to Sunderland.
Second-placed Napoli moved cautiously but effectively as they signed Giuseppe Mascara, a valuable offensive midfielder, from Catania for 1.3 million euros.
Spanish youth-team international Victor Ruiz is in Naples from Espanyol for 6 million euros and the transfer of Argentine Jesus Datolo to the Spanish club.
