Veteran midfielder Claudio Marchisio has joined Russian club Zenit St Petersburg on a two-year contract, a few weeks after being allowed to leave Juventus.
The 32-year-old Italy international had spent more than two decades in the Juve set-up before being told that he was free to move on, with a host of clubs across Europe being linked with an interest in the schemer.
I had no doubt about signing for Zenit - I like the club, I like the ambition.
Claudio Marchisio
However, he eventually opted to head to St Petersburg and Marchisio is confident that he has made the right choice.
He told his new club's official website: "I had no doubt about signing for Zenit - I like the club, I like the ambition.
"After leaving Juventus, I promised that I would not sign for any other Italian team, but I still wanted to find a place that shares my values."
Marchisio, who has 55 caps for Italy to his name, won a host of trophies during his time with Juve, including seven Serie A titles and four Coppa Italia successes.
He joins a Zenit side who have made a flying start to the new Russian league season, winning five and drawing one of their opening six games to top the table ahead of Spartak Moscow.
They have also reached the group stage of the Europa League by ousting Dinamo Minsk and Molde and have been drawn with Bordeaux, Slavia Prague and FC Copenhagen in Group C.
Zenit can be backed at 1/1 to win the Russian Premier League this season, while they are 40/1 to triumph in the Europa League and repeat their success of a decade ago.
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Veteran midfielder Claudio Marchisio has joined Russian club Zenit St Petersburg on a two-year contract, a few weeks after being allowed to leave Juventus.
The 32-year-old Italy international had spent more than two decades in the Juve set-up before being told that he was free to move on, with a host of clubs across Europe being linked with an interest in the schemer.
I had no doubt about signing for Zenit - I like the club, I like the ambition.
Claudio Marchisio
However, he eventually opted to head to St Petersburg and Marchisio is confident that he has made the right choice.
He told his new club's official website: "I had no doubt about signing for Zenit - I like the club, I like the ambition.
"After leaving Juventus, I promised that I would not sign for any other Italian team, but I still wanted to find a place that shares my values."
Marchisio, who has 55 caps for Italy to his name, won a host of trophies during his time with Juve, including seven Serie A titles and four Coppa Italia successes.
He joins a Zenit side who have made a flying start to the new Russian league season, winning five and drawing one of their opening six games to top the table ahead of Spartak Moscow.
They have also reached the group stage of the Europa League by ousting Dinamo Minsk and Molde and have been drawn with Bordeaux, Slavia Prague and FC Copenhagen in Group C.
Zenit can be backed at 1/1 to win the Russian Premier League this season, while they are 40/1 to triumph in the Europa League and repeat their success of a decade ago.
View all Soccer betting
Source: bet365.com