Juventus announce Martin Cáceres is leaving the club this summer
Friday July 1 2016
Juventus' incoming transfers so far this summer have been a little less than expected at first. Miralem Pjanic? A fast-moving deal that kinda caught us off guard. Dani Alves? The same kind of thing. Beppe Marotta certainly has sprung a few surprises on us -- and the summer transfer window is just about to open its doors.
An outgoing move that doesn't surprise anybody in the slightest? Juventus defender Martin Caceres leaving the club when his contract expires.
And on Thursday, Juventus confirmed what we have pretty much assumed would be the case for months now. That means Caceres, who barely featured this past season due to both disciplinary and injury reasons, will be playing his football somewhere else next season as Juve will allow the 29-year-old Uruguayan defender to leave on a free transfer this summer. Here's the opening part of a very nice post on the team's official website:
"Juventus Football Club can today confirm the departure of Martin Caceres, whose contract expires today on 30 June 2016.
Now at the end of his second spell with the Bianconeri, the Uruguayan defender will be forever remembered as one of eight players to have featured in all five of the Old Lady's history-making consecutive Scudetto titles, to which he added three Italian Super Cups and two Coppa Italia crowns.
A popular figure in the dressing room and a favourite among the team's fans, the sight of El Pelado collecting his winners' medal on 15 May roundly warmed the hearts of the Juventus Stadium faithful and concluded his adventure in Turin in the best possible fashion."
As much as we loved watching him ball out in his high socks, this move was inevitable. Caceres, for as good as he has been the last couple of seasons as either a centerback or a fullback, couldn't stay health. His all-out style of play certainly did not lend to a body that is susceptible to injuries. He played in just six games in the 2015-16 campaign, having been suspended for a drunk driving accident and then being ruled out for the rest of the season in early February after he blew out his Achilles.
Caceres has been linked to a handful of clubs in Italy over the last six months or so. Many of those have been clubs that finished in the top third of the Serie A table last season -- Napoli, Inter Milan, Fiorentina and AC Milan.
Where Caceres goes is anybody's best guess at this point. Knowing how much he enjoyed playing for the Juventus shirt, it will certainly be more than just a little weird to see him playing for somebody else next season. Best of luck to you, Pelado, wherever you may go.
