Serie A giants Juventus through manager Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed that center-back Medhi Benatia is leaving the club, with the club set to re-sign Uruguay defender Martin Caceres as his replacement.
Moroccan Benatia, 31, is reported to be joining Al Duhail in Qatar in a deal worth 10m euros (£8.6m) with Allegri saying in a press conference that the defender had already made the choice and that the club was not going to keep a player who was reluctant.
“It wouldn’t make sense to keep a player who is reluctant. Benatia made a choice and the club evaluated and accepted his request,” Allegri said.
Benatia joined the Italian champions on loan from Bayern Munich in 2016, before signing permanently a year later.
Former Barcelona and Southampton centre-back Caceres, 31, is having a medical before a move from Lazio, who Juventus face in the league on Sunday. It will be his third spell at the club.
Allegri said of Caceres: “I know Caceres and he can give a lot to Juventus. He is a player who is ready to go here, while others would take more time settling in, learning the environment.”
