Turin, Italy (My Sportsbook) - Juventus signed banned striker Adrian Mutu Wednesday to a five-year deal. Mutu was released several months back by English Premiership side Chelsea after being handed a seven-month worldwide ban for a positive cocaine test. The Romanian will be eligible to suit up for Juventus when the suspension ends on May 18. The Serie A season concludes on May 29. Mutu has played in Italy before, scoring 17 goals in 31 matches for Parma in the 2002/03 season. He also had stints with Inter Milan and Verona after making a name for himself with Dinamo Bucharest. In the summer of 2003, Mutu left Parma for Chelsea in a $29 million transfer. Mutu, who has been training with Dinamo Bucharest to keep fit, began his career brightly in London. But after scoring in his first three games, he went 19 matches without netting and was involved in a sex scandal. Juve is four points clear at the top of the Serie A table, and has advanced to the knockout stage of the Champions League. The final of the Champions League is on May 25, making it possible for Mutu to appear. However, Fabio Capello already has star strikers David Trezeguet, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and Alessandro del Piero to choose from. |
