
FC Barcelona has signed defenders Gianluca Zambrotta and Lilian Thuram from relegated Juventus, the Spanish team said on its website. The former France veteran Thuram, 34, has signed a two-year deal and Zambrotta, 29, a four-year deal.
The transfers were the latest by Juventus players in the wake of a corruption scandal that has relegated the club to the second division in Italy and stripped of its past two Italian championships.
The contracts were signed Thursday. Financial terms were not disclosed. The newspaper El Pais and other news outlets said Thursday that European and Spanish champion Barcelona is prepared to pay US17.7 million for Zambrotta and US6.3 million for Thuram. They will join Barcelona during its tour of Mexico and the United States, it added.
Real Madrid announced late Wednesday it had reached agreement with Juventus over the transfers of Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro and Brazilian Emerson, each on three-year contracts.
El Pais cited club sources as saying the players would cost a combined US29 million.
Madrid president Ramon Calderon recently said four new players would be presented this week. The club has also expressed interest in Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and AC Milan playmaker Kaka.