Tevez given Del Piero’s number 10 as he joins Juventus

TORINO - Reuters

Striker Carlos Tevez arrives to undertake medical examinations in Turin.

Carlos Tevez sealed his move to Juventus on June 26 after four controversy-filled years at Manchester City and was handed the unenviable task of trying to emulate club hero Alessandro Del Piero.

Italian champions Juve announced his arrival with a picture of the Argentine striker holding up Del Piero’s old number 10 jersey alongside club president Andrea Agnelli.

A statement said he had reached a deal to sign a three-year-contract. There was no word on the transfer fee but media reports have put it at 12 million euros.

“The Argentine is used to winning. He has done so wherever he has been,” Juve’s website (www.juventus.com) added.

Del Piero spent almost 20 years at Juve, helping them win the 1996 Champions League and sticking by the club when they spent one season in Serie B in 2006/07 after being demoted for match-fixing.

He left for Australia’s Sydney FC last year having broken almost every Juve record in the book. Michel Platini and Roberto Baggio also famously wore Juve’s number 10 shirt.

Handing Tevez the ex-Italy striker’s former shirt is a mark of intent from Juve, who have won the Serie A twice in a row without a big name forward but are now targeting renewed European glory.

Coach Antonio Conte has rotated between any two of Sebastian Giovinco, Alessandro Matri, Mirko Vucinic and Fabio Quagliarella, who have shared the goals evenly between them. Athletic Bilbao forward Fernando Llorente joins Juve next month.