Newcastle United defender labelled 'most disastrous signing' as St James' Park exit looms large

Lloyd Kelly's story at Newcastle United is certainly a strange one after arriving on a free in the summer and being shoved out in January.

The former Bournemouth defender was seen as an ideal signing by Eddie Howe when it became clear that Lloyd Kelly would leave Bournemouth upon the expiration of his contract.

Moves were made, and Eddie Howe ultimately ended up signing the left-back for a second time.

However, Kelly struggled to break into the first team at Newcastle, and when a loan move to Juventus presented itself, the deal was done, which included a £20 million obligation to buy, which will become active if Juventus qualify for any UEFA competition.

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Italian media has not been kind to Lloyd Kelly since his switch to Juventus

Despite being used more regularly by the Italian club, his season hasn't really got much better as the Juventus fans have failed to warm to him, to the point where the Juventus sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, has been heavily criticised for making the deal.

Now, Italian journalist Mimmo Cugini has labelled Kelly as embarrassing via Football Italia.

“Considering what they paid for him, I think he is the most disastrous signing in the history of Juventus.

“He is frankly embarrassing. I’ve seen him do things that we humans have never seen on a football field. Kelly is not reliable. The goal he allowed against Parma, at this level, was embarrassing.”

Juventus are close to triggering the obligation to buy Lloyd Kelly

Juventus are currently fourth in Serie A which would land them a European place, thus triggering the permanent acquisition of Lloyd Kelly.

There has been a bit of a panic among Newcastle fans that Juventus' poor form would see them fall out of the European places and we'd be lumbered with Kelly again.

Thankfully, it all looks like it will go ahead which is good news for Newcastle, indifferent news for Lloyd Kelly and terrible news for Juventus and Cristiano Giuntoli.