Diego leaves Werder for Juve

Brazil playmaker Diego has signed for Juventus from Werder Bremen, according to a report by Italian news agency Ansa on Thursday.

The 24-year-old former Santos and Porto attacking midfielder has signed a four-year deal.

The news was not confirmed by either buying or selling club but Bremen’s managing director Manfred Mueller told German magazine Sport-Bild: “It is well-known that we are in discussions, but some things still need to be straightened out and clarified.”

Diego will cost the Italian giants 25 million euros and will earn 3.5 million euros a year, also according to Ansa.

However Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli denied a deal had been finalised.

“We are pursuing Diego and we’re going forwards with transfer dealings, that’s for sure,” he said upon arriving at a Football League meeting.

“We hope to tie it up but things haven’t yet been completed.”

However, with Bayern Munich also rumoured to be after the Brazilian’s services, Cobolli admitted it was too early to be chicken counting.

“I don’t know (about Bayern’s interest) but we are in the process of arranging a transfer,” he said.

“However, you (the press) have taught me that in the football world anything can happen as long as nothing has been signed.”

Diego has made 15 appearances for the Selecao and joined Bremen from Porto in 2006.

He has scored 37 times for Werder over three seasons including 11 strikes this season and he is known as a free-kick specialist.

Juve are third in Serie A but have not won in five matches, although they are still in a rebuilding phase having lost most of their best players when they were relegated to Serie B in 2006 for match-fixing.