Juventus beat Arsenal to Melo signing

Juventus have signed the midfielder Felipe Melo from Fiorentina after beating off competition from Arsenal.

Juventus have paid €20.5m (£17.6m) plus winger Marco Marchionni for the 26-year-old, the Turin club said, adding that the Brazilian has signed a five-year contract.

"I believe a lot in this side. It has been reinforced and can rival any team as we target all the trophies in Italy and Europe," Melo said.

He recently signed a contract extension with Fiorentina but a €25m escape clause was inserted, which Juve have triggered with the cash and player deal.

The Florence club, who only signed the combative midfielder from Spain's Almería last year, had previously said that Arsenal were best-placed to buy him if the London side's full-back Emmanuel Eboué was included in the transfer.

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