Alessandro Matri will need to continue his goal-scoring ways this season to help floundering Juventus climb up the standings. (Enrico Locci/Getty Sports)Struggling Juventus signed striker Alessandro Matri on loan from Cagliari on Monday, opening the way for Brazilian-born forward Amauri to move to Parma on the final day of the transfer window in Italy.
The deal requires Juventus to purchase Matri's full rights at the end of the season for $21.2 million US.
Juve lost to Udinese 2-1 on Sunday to fall 12 points behind Serie A leader AC Milan. The Turin club has been hit by a series of injuries, with the biggest blow being losing Fabio Quagliarella to season-ending knee surgery.
The 26-year-old Matri has scored 11 goals for Cagliari this season while Amauri has been a disappointment for Juve.
Meanwhile, Milan announced it had acquired Nicola Legrottaglie from Juventus, signing the defender until the end of this season.
The Serie A leaders were in need of a new centre back with Alessandro Nesta constantly in and out of the lineup due to injury.
Also, European champion Inter Milan loaned midfielder Sulley Muntari to Sunderland over the weekend and convinced defender Davide Santon to accept a loan to Cesena so it could take Japan defender Yuto Nagatomo in exchange.
Second-place Napoli bolstered its already formidable attack with the addition of 32-year-old forward Giuseppe Mascara from Catania, and the southern club also presented new defender Victor Ruiz, who joined from Espanyol in Spain.
Also, midfielder Cristiano Zanetti transferred from Fiorentina to Brescia.
