Juventus close in on Krasic capture

Juventus are due to sign Serbia attacking midfielder Milos Krasic on Friday for 15 million euros, according to Italian media.

The CSKA Moscow player arrived in Turin and was set to undergo a medical at around 1400 local time (1200 GMT).

The 25-year-old, who represented Serbia at the World Cup in South Africa, was then expected to sign a five-year contract before being officially presented on Saturday.

Juve general manager Beppe Marotta had admitted in a television interview with Mediaset on Thursday: “We’re very close to signing Krasic, (Friday) he will be in Italy for his medical, after which it will be official.”

Juve turned to Krasic when Vfl Wolfsburg refused to negotiate over Bosnia forward Edin Dzeko, a deal which Marotta admitted is now dead.

“In the next few days we will discuss signing other players but with the signing of Krasic, the move for the Bosnian is finished, not least because the rules state we can sign only one non-EU player.

“But the real reason was Wolfsburg didn’t want to lose the player.”

Marotta also dismissed speculation linking Juve midfielder Claudio Marchisio with a switch to Inter Milan.

“That’s transfer fantasy,” he said. “Claudio was born at Juve and represents the prototype Juventus footballer.

“It would be a mistake to sell him, we’ve sat down at a table to improve his contract with us and we will do so again, Marchisio is definitely staying with us.”

The signing of Krasic, would be the latest in a spate of Juve acquisitions this summer including international defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Marco Motta, midfielder Davide Lanzafame, wingers Simone Pepe and Jorge Martinez and goalkeeper Marco Storari.