Gonzalo Higuain signs for Juventus: reports

Turin, July 26 (IANS) Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta headed on Tuesday to the Lega Nazionale Professionisti, commonly known as Lega Calcio, to register the contract of the football club's new Argentine signing, Gonzalo Higuain, who arrives from Napoli, the Italian media reported.

After meeting Higuain's release clause, the Argentine's official move from Napoli to Juventus could be regarded as one of the most important, yet controversial, in the history of the Italian football market, while it is expected that the clubs themselves will make an official announcement soon.

Higuain's move to Juventus requires the Bianconeri to pay 90 million euros ($99 million) to meet his exit clause, making him the world's third most expensive player, after the Welsh Gareth Bale and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, reports Efe.

Italian media reported that the Argentine has signed a four-year contract with the Turin side for 7.5 million euros ($8.5 million) per season.

The striker's departure from Napoli has been surrounded by great expectations and controversy as Juventus is its historical rival.

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis even said recently that if Higuain signed for Juventus he would be betraying himself and all the people of Naples.