June 20, 2015 06:52:02 UK
Atletico Madrid and Croatia striker Mario Mandzukic is on the verge of joining Serie A champions Juventus, coach Massimiliano Allegri has revealed.
The 29-year-old scored 12 goals in La Liga in his debut season for Diego Simeone’s deposed Spanish champions but could be on the verge of a high-profile move to Juventus Stadium.
“Mandzukic has scored everywhere he has played. He has a lot of personality and plays at international level. He’ll do a good job.”
Massililiano Allegri
The revelation comes amid speculation Allegri is resigned to losing Carlos Tevez in the summer, although the Scudetto-winning coach denied Mandzukic is being brought in to replace the Argentina striker.
“We don’t have to replace him [Tevez]. What we have to do is sign players and study the way they play,” Allegri is quoted as telling Sky Sport Italia.
“Mandzukic is on his way and we have [Simone] Zaza [who the club have an option to repurchase from Sassuolo], [Kingsley] Coman, [Alvaro] Morata and [Paulo] Dybala, young players with a lot of quality.”
Mandzukic joined El Atleti from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich for an undisclosed fee last summer on a four-year deal. He scored 33 goals in 54 top-flight German games for the Bavarians after joining them from Wolfsburg in 2012.
Allegri added: “Mandzukic has scored everywhere he has played. He has a lot of personality and plays at international level. He’ll do a good job.
“We signed him because he was the player we wanted. I’m really happy because that was our choice.”
Mandzukic, who earned a reputation as one of the most feared strikers in Europe following a successful stint with Dinamo Zagreb, scored 20 goals in all competitions during his debut Atletico campaign.
Atletico Madrid are quoted 15.00 in next season’s La Liga outright betting and Juventus can be backed to win the Champions League at 17.00.
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