Juventus bolster attacking options with Alessandro Matri loan

Juventus bolster attacking options with Alessandro Matri loan

Published Feb. 2, 2015 12:22 p.m. ET

Alessandro Matri returns to Juventus where the Italian striker will play on loan until the end of the season.

The 30-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Genoa from AC Milan, scoring seven goals and providing five assists in 16 league appearances.

Juve were keen to strengthen their attacking line following the departure of Italian forward Sebastian Giovinco to Toronto FC.

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A statement from Juve read: "Alessandro Matri has today returned to Juventus after agreeing terms on a loan switch from Genoa until 30 June 2015.

"The striker, 30, represented the club between January 2011 and August 2013, winning back-to-back Scudetto and Super Coppa titles during a successful period in Turin."

Juve sold Matri to Milan in the summer of 2013 in an 11million euros transfer deal but he endured a disappointing spell with the Rossoneri and loan moves to Fiorentina and Genoa followed.

Matri becomes Juve's first reinforcement in the winter transfer market.

Juve lead the Serie A standings, seven points clear of Roma.

The Turin giants reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals last week and are still in the Champions League, where they will take on Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 of the competition later this month.

Earlier on Monday, Juve announced that forward Sebastian Giovinco has joined Toronto FC earlier than expected.

The 28-year-old has moved to the Canadian outfit ahead of the start of the Major League Soccer season in March.

Giovinco, who has won 21 caps for Italy, made his last appearance for Juve as a late substitute against Hellas Verona on January 18.

A statement from Juve read: "Giovinco leaves Juventus after a long adventure with the club lasting 19 years.

"Now the doors of the MLS open up for him.

"He will face a new professional and personal adventure with the Toronto FC jersey.

"From all of us our most sincere wishes for his new challenge."

Turin-born Giovinco was a product of Juve's youth system and broke into the first team in 2006.

One year later, he made his Serie A debut while on loan at Empoli before joining Parma for a two-year loan spell in 2010.

Giovinco, known as the 'Atomic Ant' because of his speed and diminutive stature, was part of the Juve side that won back-to-back Serie A crowns the last two seasons.

He has played 131 times for Juve in total, but has only made 10 appearances this season.

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