The Serie A club said Tuesday the 35-year-old defender, who left for Real Madrid in 2006, signed a one-year contract to rejoin the Turin side on July 1.

Cannavaro, the 2006 world player of the year, angered Juve fans when he left for Madrid after the Italian club was demoted in a match-fixing scandal.

"I am happy to be back in Turin and to have the opportunity to again wear the black-and-white jersey," Cannavaro said on the club's Web site.

"I'm sorry that among some of the fans there still prevails rancor about appreciating the glorious seasons that we lived together," he said.

Cannavaro pledged to win over "even the most skeptical among them through my work, professionalism and passion with which I'll face this new adventure."

Juve said that in 2006 it was "forced to let him go to deal with urgent financial needs."

The club said it was sure that Cannavaro's presence "will make Juventus more competitive."

Cannavaro's return was announced a day after Juve fired coach Claudio Ranieri. The club has gone winless in its last seven games and is only one point clear of Fiorentina in the race for third place, with two games remaining.

Ciro Ferrara, a former Juve defender, was put in charge for the rest of the season.