Tevez given Del Piero's shirt as he joins Juventus

Updated: 2013-07-05 12:12

(Agencies)

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Carlos Tevez sealed his move to Juventus on Wednesday 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 ($15.60 million).

Tevez given Del Piero's shirt as he joins Juventus

Manchester City's Carlos Tevez celebrates after scoring during their English Premier League soccer match against Newcastle United at The Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England, March 30, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

"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.

Matri could now be sacrificed to suitors AC Milan, who had been tracking Tevez.

Earlier Tevez was whisked to Turin after hundreds of fans greeted him amid chaotic scenes at Milan's Malpensa airport.

Television pictures showed Tevez being mobbed by fans before being taken back into the terminal by Juventus staff and put into a car via a side entrance.

During his seven years in England the spotlight, whether positive or negative, was never far from the 29-year-old.

Tevez, along with fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano, arrived at Premier League side West Ham United in 2006 from Brazilian club Corinthians and had an immediate impact.

West Ham, struggling to remain in the top flight, were rescued from relegation by Tevez who scored the only goal in a win against Manchester United on the final day of the 2006-07 season.

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