Nedved checks out of Juve

Czech veteran Pavel Nedved has announced his departure from Juventus in a statement released by the club on Saturday.

Nedved had said earlier in the season that he would retire from football when this campaign is over but this statement seemed to contradict that.

“After eight seasons with Juventus the time has come to say farewell to the fans, my team-mates and the club and thank them all for the support I’ve received over the years,” said Nedved.

“In Turin I have won four titles (actually two as two were annulled for match-fixing) and a Ballon d’Or.”

Nedved said that he was not leaving for economic reasons but with Juve having signed Brazilian Diego and with young Italian Sebastian Giovinco pushing for a more regular starting berth, he risked being pushed down the pecking order.

Far from clarifying his future he added that from Monday he would start thinking about what to do next, although back in February he had seemingly already made up his mind.

“I’m still enjoying playing but considering my physical and mental condition I understand that the time has come to make way for younger players – they deserve to play,” he said then.

“Maybe you think I’m still young but I’m almost 37. I will quit at the end of the season, no matter how well we do in the Champions League or Serie A.

“The decision is final and I don’t think I will change my mind – I don’t need to. It is the right time to quit.”

The 36-year-old joined Juve in 2001, as a replacement for the Real Madrid bound Zinedine Zidane, after five seasons at Lazio, with whom he also won a scudetto crown in 2000.

In 2003, the same year he won the Ballon d’Or, Juve reached the Champions League final but Nedved was suspended as the Old Lady of Turin lost on penalties to AC Milan.

For his country he earned 91 caps and played in the European Championship final in 1996 in the 2-1 defeat to Germany.

This season he has played in 31 league games, scoring seven goals while also playing nine times in the Champions League.