 Sissoko was a key player last term but has now fallen out of favour |
Out-of-favour Liverpool midfielder Mohamed Sissoko has signed for Italian giants Juventus for �8.2m. The 23-year-old flew to Italy for a medical last weekend before rejoining the Mali squad at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.
"I am happy to come to such an important club. This is certainly a step forward in my career," he said.
Sissoko will be reunited with Juve coach Claudio Ranieri, having played for him previously at Valencia.
"I am excited at the thought of playing with great champions like [Gianluigi] Buffon and [Alessandro] Del Piero and working again with Claudio Ranieri, a great coach," he added.
Sissoko joined Liverpool from the Spanish club in 2005 and only signed a new four-year contract last summer.
But manager Rafael Benitez told him he could leave Anfield "if the right club and the right offer" came in.
And his departure should help Liverpool complete a permanent deal for Javier Mascherano, who arrived from West Ham on an 18-month loan deal last season.
Sissoko, who played in Liverpool's FA Cup final win over West Ham two seasons ago, last week denied suggestions of a falling out with Benitez.
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"No, he's the manager. He decides. I am young, I am just 23 years old. I want to play. That's why I want to leave Liverpool," he said.
Sissoko admitted, however, that he would be sad to go despite having played only six games during the current campaign, including the 2-0 win at Sunderland when he scored his only goal for the team.
"Yes, because it's a big club. I like the fans, I like Anfield, I like everybody in Liverpool. I am just disappointed about my position in Liverpool. But this is football," he said.
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