Juventus pull a Boumsong out of the hat

This is unbelievable to me. Jean-Alain Boumsong is one of the worst defenders I've ever seen in top flight football. So, naturally, he gets rewarded with a 4-year deal at one of the best football clubs in the world. Tis truly better to be lucky, than skilled.


Newcastle defender Jean-Alain Boumsong has joined Italian side Juventus on a four-year contract.

The 26-year-old, who was signed last year from Rangers, is set to play in Serie B rather than the top flight of Italian football after Juventus' relegation in the aftermath of the match-fixing scandal.

The deal is initially worth around £3.3million, which means the club have made a loss on the player bought by Graeme Souness from Rangers for £8million.

A statement to the Stock Exchange read: 'The directors of Newcastle United plc wish to announce that the transfer of Jean-Alain Boumsong from Newcastle United to Juventus has been finalised this afternoon.'

The initial fee could increase depending on how Juventus fare in domestic and European competition, although the Italian side have also been docked 17 points for the coming season.

Boumsong endured a run of bad form after arriving at St James' Park and made a number of noticeable errors.

He did earn a place in France's squad for this summer's World Cup, although he did not play in Germany as his country reached the final.

Juventus will play a friendly against Newcastle at St James' Park next year as part of the deal.