Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has paid tribute to departing defender Olof Mellberg.

A new challenge now awaits Mellberg, who joins Italian giants Juventus in the summer, but he goes with O'Neill's best wishes.

"Olof has been fantastic for this football club," said the manager. "For seven years, he has been terrific. I've known him for two of those and, for the second, he has played out of position (at right-back) all year.

"But he has never complained, he's got on with it and now he goes to Juventus where he will play centre-half, so he'll probably be delighted.

"I think the crowd showed their appreciation of him and I share that."