Thursday Feb 28 2008 13:42
Aston Villa defender Olof Mellberg has admitted that the chance to join Italian giants Juventus for next season was too good to turn down.
The 30-year-old Sweden international joined Villa in the summer of 2001 from Spanish outfit Racing Santander and has gone on to make more than 250 appearances for the Midlands club.
However, he opted against extending his stay at Villa Park to take up the offer from Juve.
Mellberg told the Birmingham Mail: "Sooner or later the time comes to leave all clubs and for me this is the right time.
"When the chance came to join Juventus I knew it would be the right choice.
"They are one of the more prestigious clubs in the world and they have watched me a lot, for Sweden and for Aston Villa.
"I knew Claudio Ranieri from when I played in Spain and I am happy to have the opportunity to play Champions League football. It is something I could not turn down."
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