Magpies offload Boumsong to Juve

Boumsong did not have the best of times at St James' Park

French central defender Jean Alain Boumsong has joined Juventus from Newcastle for £3.3m.

The 26-year-old, who was part of the France 2006 World Cup squad, has agreed to a four-year deal with the club.

Boumsong, who had also been linked with Marseille and Lens, moved from Rangers to Newcastle in January 2005, signing a five-and-a-half-year deal.

Meanwhile, Juventus have also agreed to play a friendly with United at St James' Park next summer.

Boumsong had arrived at Rangers from Auxerre on a free transfer in the summer of 2004 but made only 28 appearances for them before former Magpies boss Graeme Souness took him to Tyneside.

But he proved unpopular among a large proportion of Magpies supporters after turning out a number of poor performances.

This season he found himself behind Craig Moore, Steven Taylor and Titus Bramble in the centre-back pecking order.