Thauvin joins Udinese after abrupt end to Liga MX spell

Rome, Jan 31, 2023 (AFP) - France international Florian Thauvin has signed for Udinese as a free agent after his contract with Mexican outfit Tigres was terminated, the Serie A club said on Tuesday.

In a statement Udinese said that former Marseille and Newcastle United winger Thauvin had signed a contract until June 2025.

Thauvin, who has 10 France caps, was released last week by Tigres in order to free up a foreign player spot for the Argentinian Nicolas Ibanez.

The 30-year-old scored eight times in 39 matches in a strange period at Tigres, which started with a red card in his first match in August 2021 and ended with him going to the club's training ground last Tuesday after his contract was terminated and being refused entry.

Thauvin signs for Udinese on the final day of Italy's winter transfer window, which closes at 1900 GMT, as their talisman Gerard Deulofeu needs surgery on his left knee.

Udinese sit seventh in Serie A and face Torino on Sunday.