Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Juventus Transfer Rumours & Updates

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Monday, December 24, 2012

Andrea Pirlo dalla A alla Z


AGNELLI «Quando viene a Vinovo è come l'allenatore, chiede di vincere come la Juventus è storicamente abituata a fare e di dare sempre il meglio per questa maglia».
BRASILE «Spero di arrivare a giocare quel Mondiale. Non sono mai stato in Brasile...».

CRESTA «Un taglio alla Balotelli se dovessimo vincere la Champions? Vediamo... Ne parlerò con i miei compagni».

DEVASTANTI «Gli allenamenti di Conte possono davvero essere devastanti. Ma è veramente un grande allenatore: assomiglia a Lippi».

ESTERO «Ho ancora un contratto di un anno. Poi vedremo...»

FUORICLASSE «Non so se lo sono, lo devono dire gli altri. Penso di aver combinato qualcosa di buono nel calcio, ma mi considero un buon giocatore». G IOCO «Il nostro modo di giocare è aggressione immediata, pressando alto, tenendo sempre il pallino del gioco. E' una mentalità nuova, un calcio che
diverte sia noi che siamo in campo che ci guarda da
fuori».

HABITAT «Sto iniziando ad apprezzare Torino. E' una città che mi assomiglia, tranquilla, sobria. Milano mi manca sempre di meno».

INUTILE «Ma il vero motivo del mio trasferimento è stato un altro: Allegri voleva piazzare
davanti alla difesa Ambrosini o Van Bommel e io avrei dovuto cambiare ruolo. Allora ho detto 'no, grazie' e ho scelto la Juve, che mi offriva motivazioni importanti. Ci tengo a dire che non è stata una questione economica. Il Milan ha deciso che non servivo più. L'ho capito subito durante quel colloquio. Nel mio ruolo Allegri preferiva altri giocatori».
JUVENTUS «La Juve è la squadra più famosa, anche nel mondo, con tantissimi tifosi a favore e altrettanti contro. 
Quando si vince è normale che ci sia accanimento, ma siamo abituati e la cosa non ci distrurba».

LACRIME «A Trieste ho pianto. Non era il primo scudetto della mia carriera, ma ho pianto. Lacrime di gioia perché la vittoria è stata bella e intensamente voluta. Ci tenevo molto. E mentre piangevo ho abbracciato Buffon: parlavamo di quello scudetto dall'inizio della stagione»

MEZZALI «Vidal e Marchisio sono due vere mezzali, autentiche: sanno inserirsi in avanti e anche coprire. E' un piacere giocare con loro, perché per me è più facile sapere che mi coprono e, nello stesso tempo, aggredire gli spazi e darmi la possibilità di lanciarli».
NATURALE «E' un dono naturale, che va coltivato. Io l'ho fatto fin da piccolo. Due volte alla settimana, alla fine dell'allenamento, mi fermo una mezz'oretta e mi esercito. Non provo soltanto il tiro ad effetto. Se una punizione è tirata come si deve, è imparabile. Io ho imparato guardando Platini in tv, da piccolo. E nel Brescia mi allenavo con Baggio. Lo studiavo bene. Ma in Italia le barriere sono troppo vicine. A livello internazionale, invece, gli arbitri fanno rispettare di più la distanza».

OBIETTIVO «La Champions? Noi siamo la Juventus e abbiamo il dovere di iniziare ogni competizione con l'idea di vincerla. Senza presunzione, ma senza paura. La Coppa o il campionato? Se devo scegliere dico Coppa».

POGBA «Impressionante. E' un ragazzo giovane, di prospettiva sicura. E' un gran colpo averlo strappato a un club così importante come il Manchester United».

QUALITA' «Il talento è importante, anzi fondamentale. Ma devi lavorare per coltivarlo, altrimenti solo con il talento non vai da nessuna parte. Il talento mette i presupposti, ma è il lavoro che ti porta a raggiungere gli obiettivi».

ROSE' «Con la mia famiglia abbiamo rilevato un'azienda viticola, la Pratum Colmer, sforniamo 41mila bottiglie l'anno. Rosè, bianco e rosso».

SEGRETO «Mi diverto. E amo il mio lavoro. Mi diverto a giocare e ad allenarmi, quando non sarà più così smetterò».

TEMPO «La barba? Non mi dà fastidio e così non perdo tempo a radermi».

UNICA «La maglia della Juventus è unica. E mi trovo molto bene a indossarla. Vestire una maglia che rappresenta anni di successi e tradizione mi regala un senso di orgoglio, dopo aver indossato per tanti anni un'altra maglia come quella del Milan, similmente ricca di successi e tradizione. Sono molto soddisfatto e contento».

VERRATTI «Ha caratteristiche simile alle mie ed è bravissimo. Dategli solo il tempo di crescere e sbagliare in santa pace. Può essere la mia continuazione».
ZEMAN «E' un allenatore particolare, che fa discutere. Anzi, è un grande allenatore e le sue squadre giocano bene. Fuori dal campo ogni tanto dice delle cose un po' strane, ma è parte del suo carattere o ormai lo conosciamo».

L'edizione odierna di Tuttosport ci parla di Andrea Pirlo dalla A alla Z.

Serie A chiefs give Juventus break ahead of Champions League clash with Celtic


JUVENTUS have succeeded in bringing forward their vital Serie A match with Fiorentina to prepare for their Champions League showdown with Celtic. The Parkhead side have been drawn against the Italian giants for the last 16 clash.

Serie A leaders Juve were due to face Fiorentina – who are also in the running for the title – at home on Sunday, February 10 just two days before they face the Hoops in Glasgow. The
 Italian league bosses have now agreed to move the game forward a day to help Juve prepare.

It will now kick off at 6pm in Turin on the Saturday night. 
Celtic face Caley Thistle in Inverness that weekend before welcoming the Italians to Glasgow.  The Parkhead men will be heartened by the fact Juve have a difficult February fixture list squeezed in between their two legs against the Hoops.

They must travel to high-flying Roma and Napoli and also face Siena before welcoming Neil Lennon’s team to Turin for the second leg later that month.

Meanwhile, Marcello Lippi reckons Juve have one of the best managers in the world.

The Old Lady warmed up for the showdown with the Hoops by coming from behind to beat Cagliari 3-1 in Parma on Friday and extend their lead in the league to 10 points.

Lippi – an Italian World Cup winner and twice former manager of Juventus – has been impressed with Antonio Conte as the Turin side seem certainties to win another Serie A title.

And he is adamant they have got themselves one of the best in the business.

He said: “Antonio has given Juve a belief.  
“That’s because the DNA of Juventus is winning and the manager is a big part of that.

“They are a very strong team and have one of the best managers in Europe. He is an exceptional coach.”

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Interpol expects Italy fixing arrests in Singapore

Interpol expects imminent arrests in Singapore linked to Italy's mushrooming 'Calcioscommesse' football match-fixing scandal, a report said.

The global police body's chief Ronald Noble said more links to the Asian city-state had been revealed following this week's arrest in Italy of Serbian footballer Almir Gegic, after more than a year on the run.

"In the near future, Singaporeans will be reading about arrests made here in Singapore of people linked to illegal betting or match-fixing either in Singapore or outside Singapore," Noble told the Straits Times.

He added that Gegic, suspected of involvement in Calcioscommesse (football betting), had links to Singapore's Tan Seet Eng or Dan Tan, "one of the leaders of an organised crime group" who is reportedly also wanted by Italian police.

Noble was speaking during a conference on match-fixing in Singapore, which has been identified as a hub for football corruption affecting leagues across the globe. In one of the most notorious cases, Singapore's Wilson Raj Perumal, an alleged associate of Dan Tan who was suspected of rigging games in several countries, was jailed in Finland in 2011.
Calcioscommesse whistle-blower Simone Farina, a former left-back with Italian lower-league side Grubbio, told the Interpol conference a former team-mate offered him 200,000 euros ($259,131) to throw a match last year. "I was told that this amount was guaranteed because of his support from an organisation based here in Singapore," Farina said in an address on Wednesday.

Nineteen people were arrested during raids in May, including some senior figures in Italian football. Juventus manager Antonio Conte is currently serving a four-month ban over the affair. Indicating the scale and extent of the problem, in recent weeks Zimbabwe disbanded its national team in the wake of a 2009 scandal -- also linked to Singapore -- and Czech authorities probed fixing claims in its top league.

"The size of the illegal gambling market has been estimated at close to 500 billion euros per year," Noble told the Singapore conference.

"The sizes of the bets can be in the tens, and even hundreds of thousands of euros. There are estimates that the large Asian bookmakers have revenues on the same scale as the Coca-Cola company." (As reported by the French Associated Press)

Friday, October 26, 2012

Agnelli calls for reform


Although Italy were runners-up to Spain in Euro 2012 this year, clubs have struggled in Europe in the last two seasons as top talent has drained away from a Serie A riddled by scandals, dilapidated stadiums and a lack of investment.
"We have to ask ourselves what Italian football will be like in a few years' time," Agnelli told the club's shareholders at a meeting in Turin.
"Many nations have experienced a decline but none have had such a sudden collapse. We are seeing a complete structural collapse and it can't just be explained away as being part of the financial crisis.
"Football is evolving and it won't wait for Italy. That is a fatal presumption."
Agnelli was speaking after an especially poor week in European club competition for the six Italian teams involved.
In the Champions League, beleaguered AC Milan lost 1-0 at Malaga while Juventus needed a late goal to force a 1-1 draw with Danish newcomers Nordsjaelland in Copenhagen.
Of the four teams in the Europa League, only Inter Milan won but they needed a late goal to beat Partizan Belgrade 1-0.
Lazio drew 1-1 at Panathinaikos while Udinese lost 3-1 at Young Boys and Napoli were beaten by the same score at Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk with both defeated sides drawing media criticism for fielding weakened teams.
Italy lost its fourth Champions League place to Germany this season and Udinese, third in Serie A last term, failed to get through qualifying only two years after Inter lifted the trophy.
"Club presidents, the media and general observers ask us if we support this or that candidate to lead Serie A or the Football Federation (FIGC)," Agnelli continued.
"Unfortunately, no one asks what needs to be done to fulfil these two important roles.
"Who does Juve support? We support a structural reform of professional football ... those who don't condemn Italy to being marginalised in Europe and the world.
"Reform of the league, the number of professional clubs and the youth sector. Reform of the status of professional sports, currently governed by a law from 1981 - trademark protection, stadium regulations.
"Comprehensive reform of sporting justice, which cannot deal with investments worth millions of euros as though they were a dispute in a local sports club."
Agnelli, who has been outspoken about the ban handed to Juve manager Antonio Conte for failing to report match-fixing, also spoke out in favor of clubs balancing their books, saying that Italian football was in danger of being left behind.
Giving his backing to UEFA's Financial Fair Play program which demands that clubs live within their means, he said: "Our first objective was to change the club and the team.
"In two years we have forged ahead but winning the title means we must not forget our mandate, which is to win while maintaining a balanced financial position in order to give ourselves prospects for the future.
"Juventus have always promoted the principle of change in the world of football. There is a need for change in Italian football to put it at the level of the rest of Europe."
Juventus, who won the Serie A title last season without losing a match having recovered from a 2006 match-fixing demotion, are unbeaten in their last 47 league matches dating back to the final game of the 2010-11 season.
They will be looking to stretch the run at seventh-placed Catania on Sunday. Milan hold the record for an unbeaten Serie A streak at 58 matches from 1991-93.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Quagliarella with Juventus amid Roma speculation



Juventus striker Fabio Quagliarella has dismissed suggestions that he is interested in moving to Roma. He has scored three goals in seven appearances for the Old Lady so far this season but was excluded from the line-up for the Champions League match against Nordsjaelland on Tuesday night, heightening conjecture that he could be set to be included in a potential swap-deal with Roma's Pablo Osvaldo.

The 29-year-old was quoted as saying earlier this week that he wants to work with Roma coach Zdenek Zeman.

"I want to explain that my words have been misinterpreted," he wrote on his official Facebook page. "I responded to a question about Zeman like any other player.

"He is a coach who preaches an attacking brand of football that allows all of his forwards to express themselves in a good light.

"But I have no intention of leaving Turin. It is a fantastic city, I'm happy here with Juventus, a club with whom I have won things with."

Quagliarella who joined Juventus from Napoli in 2010, appears to have fallen out of favour with national coach Cesare Prandelli and also finds his Juventus position under threat from Sebastian Giovinco, Alessandro Matri and Mirko Vucinic.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Del Piero set for 800th game


Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero will play his 800th professional game on Sunday, admitting he never dreamed of reaching such a landmark.

The 37-year-old former Juventus legend has impressed in all three games he has played for his new club Sydney FC, including scoring the winner against Western Sydney last weekend.

Piero said he was grateful to still be performing. "I'm not 100 percent, definitely," he told reporters after training on Wednesday. "But I'm feeling good because I'm training every day and this is important."

Del Piero has spent 19 seasons with Juventus, two with Padova as a youngster and played 91 internationals for Italy, with his fourth appearance for Sydney this Sunday against Perth Glory taking him to 800 matches.
He said he never dreamed of playing so many games.

"If I'm honest, no, but I'm happy it will happen here,"  Del Piero said of the milestone. 

"It (800 games) is a long time. I'm happy to be here and I broke a lot of records in Italy. Now I start here."

"When I played my first game, I was really happy -- it was enough," he added. "I was 18 and I didn't know what would happen with the future. I had a lot of dreams and a lot of them have happened and I'm lucky for that."

Friday, September 14, 2012

Juventus march on


Ambitious Serie A champions Juventus will be looking to maintain their 100 percent start to the season in an away match at Genoa which is the first of an impressive run of seven in 23 days. Antonio Conte's side is aiming for four trophies this season and while recently acquiring Denmark international Nicklas Bendtner, the "Old Lady of Turin" has eyes for a striker with arguably more to offer.

Juventus's trip to Genoa will be short, but next week they travel to Chelsea and then face Cheivo, Fiorentina and Roma before hosting Shakhtar in Europe and then league minnows Siena in early October.

It is no wonder the club's director general, Beppe Moratto, is intent on bolstering a squad some observers feel has a real chance in Europe this season.

"If there's one Italian side that can excel in the Champions League this season it's Juventus," Gianluca Vialli, who won the trophy with Juve and also played with their group rivals Chelsea, told Tuttosport in midweek.
Spain international Fernando Llorente of Athletic Bilbao remains Juve's main target, especially as Fiorentina have included an "anti-Juve" clause in the contract of their Montenegrin international Stevan Jovetic.
Moratta said: "He (Jovetic) could be a very useful player for us, but it will be up to Fiorentina to decide his future."
Whether Bendtner will get a chance for Juventus soon remains to be seen, although Moratta says the former Arsenal man has impressed Conte in training. "The first judgment of Conte is very positive," he added.
Juventus are one of only four teams – along with Napoli, Lazio and Sampdoria – to have won their first two games of the season.

It means the other title favourites, AC Milan and Inter, need three points this weekend if they are to keep the pressure on the Turin giants. Milan will be hoping striker Giampaolo Pazzini, who scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 win over Bologna a fortnight ago, shakes off a knock he received in training Thursday.

If Pazzini is given the all-clear, Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri could decide to give new signing Bojan Krcic, the Spanish international who arrived from Barcelona, a run-out with the Italy international. A fitness test on Friday should determine whether Allegri decides to risk Pazzini three days ahead of Milan's Champions League group stage opener against Anderlecht.

Milan are already missing Robinho, Alexandre Pato, Riccardo Montolivo and Ignazio Abate but the good news is that midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng is set to play with a newly-fitted arm brace following surgery on a fractured hand bone last week.

San Siro rivals Inter make the short trip to Torino looking to make up for their stunning home defeat to a Francecso Totti-inspired Roma two weeks ago.
Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni, however, could will be without Rodrigo Palacio after he picked up a knock playing for Argentina in midweek.

Antonio Cassano, who scored Inter's goal in the 3-1 reverse to Roma, is expected to play in support of Argentinian striker Diego Milito with Dutchman Wesley Sneijder providing the service to the attacking duo.
Roma, who sit fifth, host Bologna at the Olympic Stadium looking to replicate the performance which humbled Inter two weeks ago.

Bologna are one of seven teams, the others being Cagliari, Udinese, Palermo, Pescara, Atalanta and Siena, who have yet to win.

Napoli and Lazio will be expected to maintain their perfect start with games respectively against Parma and Chievo.

Fixtures:
Saturday
Palermo v Cagliari
AC Milan v Atalanta
Sunday
Chievo v Lazio
Napoli v Parma
Genoa v Juventus
Pescara v Sampdoria
Roma v Bologna
Fiorentina v Catania
Siena v Udinese
Torino v Inter

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

The Swiss Ramble: UEFA's FFP Regulations - Play To Win

So the transfer window is finally over after the customary twists and turns and, as always, has raised some intriguing question... more here>>>  The Swiss Ramble: UEFA's FFP Regulations - Play To Win

Juventus looking sign Theo Walcott



The 23-year-old has entered the last 12 months of his contract after snubbing a long-term deal worth £75,000 a week.
Could he be Marotta's next signing?
Arsenal are unwilling to meet Walcott's demands for £100,000 a week and Italian giants Juventus are ready to make a fresh move to beat off interest from Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea.


The Gunners decided not to sell Walcott before the transfer deadline after the England international told manager Arsene Wenger he wanted to stay at the Emirates.  An insider was quoted in as saying: 'Juve have been interested in Walcott for some time but we are coming to the decisive moment.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Drogba rejected offer from Juventus worth more than £4million

Didier Drogba rejected a deadline day offer from Juventus worth more than £4million a year to stay in China. There has been intense speculation over Drogba’s future at Shanghai Shenhua since a dispute between the club’s owners became public last week.

The Ivory Coast international, who left Chelsea as a free agent in the summer, agreed a contract worth £200,000 a week but Shanghai’s chairman Zhu Jun threatened to stop paying the striker’s salary unless the club increased his stake to 70 per cent.
Photo
Juventus tested the 34-year-old’s resolve to stay there, with sources in France claiming he was offered a two-year contract on the final day of the transfer window which would have made him their second highest paid player behind Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.

The Serie A champions were prepared to pay him around £76,000-a-week, plus a bonus of £400,000 if he played in 70 per cent of matches.

However, Drogba rejected the deal so Juventus signed Nicklas Bendtner on loan from Arsenal, only to publicly admit that the Dane was not their first choice.

Drogba is on international duty ­preparing for Ivory Coast’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Senegal tomorrow but significantly wrote a ­message to Shanghai’s supporters on his personal weibo account earlier this week. He said: “Hello to the fans. I am in the Ivory Coast for the African Cup of Nations eliminator. See you soon.”

Monday, August 20, 2012

THE RETURN OF DEL PIERO


Let’s take a trip down memory lane.  He walked around the pitch one last time, smiling and waving at his people.  A lonely tear rolling down his cheek.  Grande.  He later assured the public  that he would be continuing his playing career,  but not with Juventus.  The truth, however, was another.  The truth is that Alex, the historical  captain of his beloved  Old Lady , never really left  Juventus  world. He was forced to do so "physically" in the sense that the non-renewal of his  contract forced him to hide away the shirt that he  loved so much, but on all other levels, mental, emotional, digital...Alessandro Del Piero has not completely detached from his former  team mates, his people, from the  # 10 shirt which he embraced and embodied for 19 years. It’s  being said that perhaps soon it could be worn again by the one player who can really wear:  10 Del Piero . Call it dreaming,  a delusion,  a rumour popping up at of the end of August. It could be something more than that.

Del Piero in recent months has received offers  from  all around the world : America, China, Russia, Britain and so on and so forth. But he has declined all offers.

What is he waiting for? The Juventus organization has not renewed his contract. He's had time to take his mind elsewhere, took a vacation, thought about the future. By way of social media,  there has been all the good wishes and positive comments for his footballing companions and posts regarding Juventus through AlessandroDelPiero on facebook, one of the means by which he communicates with his nearly 4 million fans. Calls for victory, win the  Italian Super Cup and the special dedication to Gigi Buffon, who still calls him "Captaino".

The scenario could soon change dramatically. Even as this is being written, more "whispers" are being heard in Turin.

The real top player may be closer then you thought. All summer the media linked Juventus with the likes of Cavani,  Van Persie,  Suarez and even Jovetic.  All this talk of the coveted "Top Player" yet there is not even a shadow.  Instead Juventus management must frantically chase Llorente with the  small window of opportunity shrinking to get to Dzeko.   Fans mutter in chat groups or at the bar.  They keep track of broken promises.  After pondering the sure signing of Aguero last year (didn't happen), this year marks the non arrival of the Uruguayan striker (he's not worth 100 million sorry) and Dutch/former Arsenal man who ended up at Manchester United. Suarez renewed his contract and Jovetic  says he‘s happy where he is.  

Turin is beginning to circulate a blatant indiscretion. 

Juventus could reverse its original decision,  call on  the Capitano and ask him to sign for another year.  Huge presentation in full regalia , the number 10  jersey once again under the name "Del Piero " and the fans surely worked into a frenzy for the arrival of their dream Top Player. The real, unique and irreplaceable.  Alexander the Great .  Alessandro Del Piero.

Agnelli wouldn't go back on his word.  According to rumors Alex would return quickly and would even be ready to take the  first step.  Driven by his love for the shirt, the Juventus top goal scored would be willing to go deal firsthand with Andrea Agnelli.  Most likely Del Piero would offer a one year contract, with  compensation  tied to appearances and goals.  He wants back in the game, he wants to prove to those who believe in him that is far from a finished player.  Enter through  back door channels,  with respect,  humility and a deep knowledge of the team and organisation.  Traits that have always distinguished him from the rest. It would be a plot twist worthy of the best romantic movies.  Del Piero  Storia Di Un Grande Amore.

If any further developments should happen, we'll have to wait for confirmation. If indeed the incredible return of Del Piero to Juventus does materialize,  it is most likely that he would only arrive for Champions League and not before.  The management would not want to deprive us fans of the greatest surprise yet.  Think about it. The number 10,  the number of excellence.  He has a  dream : he wants to win the Champions League with HIS team once again. He has the hunger to try. If Agnelli calls on him, Alex is there. He would never say no to his beloved Lady and as mentioned before - whispers on radio and tweets and blogs" - he would even be willing to propose the deal himself. 

Alessandro Del Piero .His many admirers, those who have supported him, idolized him, loved him. Oh what joy it would bring. They would probably prefer the return of the boy from Conegliano even more than the arrival of Ronaldo and Messi in a single package. Though I know the leader Alessandro Del Piero can hide control his emotions publicly,  the Pinturicchio underneath can’t wait to pull out his tongue and unleash mayhem in the stands with the first goal he scores his second time around with Juventus.  For now there are only rumours, but something is starting to move.  In recent days Bianconeri supporters began to spread the slogan: “Altrochè top player, ridatemi Del Piero”. Today it may only be a rumour,  but with a theatrical coup it could easily become a reality.  The return of Del Piero.

How GRANDE would that be?

Sunday, August 12, 2012

IT'S ALL THERE IN BLACK AND WHITE


There is a saying “not everthing is black and white.” When it comes to my football squad, that is ALL there is. Juventus till the end. It is an organization with a rich history and over 114 years of tradition.
Looking back, there have been a number of times that the Bianconeri, organization and fans, have faced misfortune, adversity and hardship.
Juventus was founded in Torino, November of 1897. Only nine years later an internal conflict almost ended “the grand love story” as the president and several key players left the club, to form A.C. Torino (now Torino F.C.). In the end we survived and thrived, yet things didn’t turn out so great for them.
In May of 1985 Juve played Liverpool in the finals for the European Cup (Champions League). Forever known as the Heysel disaster, in which 600 people were injured and 33 Juventus fans were killed. The players were not made aware of the tragedy until after the game. A game that although Juve won, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in footballing history.
In the 90′s there was, then Roma coach, Zdenek Zemans public accusations of illegal doping.  Juventus were cleared of all charges and Juventus doctor, Riccardo Agricola, who was initially found guilty, was later cleared of all accusations.
With the new millenium came new accusations. The Calciopoli scandal, headed by FIGC prosecutor Stefano Palazzi, heard accusations of match fixing against, then general manager, Luciano Moggi. Not a single player was accused of any wrong doing yet for the first time in its history Juventus was relegated to Serie B, docked 30 points (reduced to 9 after appeal) and stripped of not one but two titles! The team lost coach Fabio Capello to Real Madrid and many high profile players such as Vieira, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Thuram and Ibrahimovic left as well. This also led to the integration of youth squad members Sebastian Giovinco and Claudio Marchisio.
Fast forward to 2012. Under Antonio Conte, Juventus completed an undefeated 38 game season. Champions of Italy. 30 on the field. Yet with this great accomplishment came the end of an era as Alessandro Del Piero and Juventus part ways.
The new season is about to begin and I can’t help but notice the return of our antagonists. Torino is back in Serie A, Zeman is back with Roma, Palazzi is back with the  Calcioscommesse trials. Juventus is back in Champions League. Odd isn’t it?
What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger…FORZA JUVE per sempre!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Cassano for Matri - now that might work



Juventus Cassano - Matri Milan

The exchange of Matri for Cassano may be the quickest way to close the deal between Juventus and AC Milan. Rumour is that the Rossoneri, aware of their financial situation, may try to include Antonio Cassano as a pawn in exchange for reducing the cost of club operations and become free of a player who could create problems during the season, that is about to begin.Cassano has made it clear that he wants to leave Milan.

An unproven concept more than likely, Cassano has been approached several times by Juventus in the past but there has never been the possibility or willingness to close an agreement between the parties. This could finally be the right time.

The Bianconeri are looking for a striker and with the departure of Krasic might be interested in a player that can be used to assist in the goal amount, a role that can currently only be covered by Giovinco .

We'll see if the whispers of exchange will stand. For the moment it remains an attractive hypothesis for the both sides.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

van Persie off to Man U?



Llorente rejects Athletic Bilbao contract renewal as Juventus prepare €20m bid

Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente has reportedly told the club he wants to leave to play Champions League football, with Serie A holders Juventus poised to make a €20 million offer.
Athletic Bilbao Fernando Llorente celeb

Llorente, 27, has made up his mind to reject a new contract offer and move on, according to Basque TV station ETB.
"Fernando Llorente wants to leave the club and he communicated that decision to its directors last Friday," reported ETB's website on Tuesday. "The player says sporting reasons are behind his decision."
Spanish newspaper Marca claimed Wednesday that Juventus would bid €20 million for the player, who has just 12 months remaining on his existing deal and is refusing to sign an extension worth €4.5 million a year. Manchester City were last season linked with the powerful forward, whose release clause is €36 million, while Tottenham are also showing interested.

According to the TV ETB Basque striker has specifically requested the transfer to juventus. Juve have already done a survey.

Juventus coach Conte to resign?


There were conflicting reports in the Italian press on Wednesday concerning the future of Juventus coach Antonio Conte, with a number of outlets speculating he could resign if he is banned for 10 months in his upcoming betting trial.
Antonio Conte

Antonio Conte led Juventus to the Scudetto this season
Conte has refused to negotiate a second plea-bargain agreement after the first - which would have seen him accept a three-month suspension - was rejected by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) disciplinary commission. He is now going to be subject to a full sporting trial and faces a much longer ban should he fail to prove his innocence.
Prosecutor Stefano Palazzi has recommended a 15-month suspension on the grounds that Conte failed to alert authorities to two potentially fixed matches during his time at Siena in the 2010-11 season.
The ban would only affect his input on match days and would prevent him taking his place on the bench or in the dressing room and rumours abound that he will be handed a 10-month suspension, effectively ruling him out for the forthcoming campaign.
Yet beyond that there is huge uncertainty in the Italian media with Sky Italia continuing to promote the club's public stance that they will stand by their coach whatever the result of the trial, putting Massimo Carrera - a member of Conte's staff - in charge during games.
The former Juve defender took control of the team during their last pre-season friendly against Malaga and is expected to do the same this weekend for the Italian Super Cup match against Napoli. The club have also issued a denial of reports that Conte was set to fire the Juventus legal team who have been representing him, in order to hire his own lawyers in an attempt to clear his name.
However, according to La Repubblica, Conte is ready to offer his resignation to the club should he be banned, following the path taken warlier this week by his assistant Cristian Stellini, who was banned for 30 months for his role in affecting results while playing for Bari in 2009-10.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

The top player is there...

Who is the "Top Player"? Suarez is off the market but let's be realistic..Liverpool wasn't giving him to us anyways. RVP is coming, going, coming, going, signed, not signed...Cavani..I'll save my breath on that one. The Director General of Juventus is Beppe Marotta. He began his football career in 1978 at the age of 22 (Director of Youth team for Varese. Within one year he was promoted to the same position for the main Varese team and in that year the team moved back up to Serie B. Over the next few years he held positions with Monza, Como, Ravenna, Venezia, Atalanta and Sampadoria. He came to Juventus in May of 2010.Signed the likes of Krasic, Matri, Quagliarella and Aquilani. Within a year he also signed a former player as the new coach (Conte) and more players...Pirlo, Vidal, Vucinic, Lichsteiner to name a few. My point is, the man knows his job and with that said we need to keep in mind that "one must keep there cards close to there chest" meaning if his plan is indeed to get us a goal scoring striker (which is lacking on this team) then he is most likely looking in the opposite direction of all the fanfare. Then again Spain showed us that you can score a bunch of goals without a striker right?. If you play the midline as a beefed up offencive mid it's difficult to stop. Maybe that's his plan...Del Piero's looking for a contract ;)  We can guess all day and night but who ever the REAL top player they have in mind is, I think it will be a quick signing that you might hear rumors of 3-4 days before. We will find out soon enough.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Van Persie to Juventus update


As we first reported on Saturday, Juventus have submitted a bid of 20 million pounds to Arsenal in hopes of securing the transfer of Robin van Persie.
https://twitter.com/EPLAgent007/status/226748216073404416

There are now multiple confirmations that the bid is legitimate and that Arsenal have accepted, leaving only van Persie to accept.

http://www.nairaland.com/998098/it-true-robin-van-persie#11537902

http://www.arsetalks.com/2012/07/rvp-agrees-juventus-deal.html

http://www.tuttojuve.com/?action=read&idnotizia=103625

Again, ALL sites are awaiting confirmation of the deal.



Friday, July 20, 2012

Juventus to trump Chelsea to Jovetic with $25m offer



Goal.com has reported that Juventus are ready to trump Chelsea to Fiorentina star Stevan Jovetic by increasing their offer for the attacker to €25 million (£19.5m) after their initial bid was rejected.

The Serie A champions are keen to strengthen their strike force ahead of the 2012-13 campaign, and have earmarked the 22-year-old as the perfect addition.

Stevan Jovetic - Fiorentina
The Old Lady, therefore, have made the decision to improve their bid for the forward and they are now ready to pay €25m (£19.5m) for the former Partizan Belgrade youngster.

Jovetic has been linked with a move to Chelsea as Roberto Di Matteo seeks to aid striker Fernando Torres by investing a significant portion of his transfer budget in support players, with Eden Hazard and Marko Marin having already signed.

AC Milan have also made an enquiry about the Montenegro international's availability, but it seems unlikely that the Rossoneri can match Juve's offer for the player due to the financial uncertainty at the club.

If the move to Turin materialises, Jovetic would be Juventus' fifth high-profile signing of the summer transfer window following the arrivals of Sebastian Giovinco, Lucio, Mauricio Isla and Kwadwo Asamoah.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Antonio Conte happy with Italy match-fixing hearing


The Juventus coach Antonio Conte says he is "completely satisfied" following a hearing lasting nearly four hours into his alleged role in Italy's match-fixing scandal.
Conte appeared before Italian football federation prosecutors on Friday and spent three hours 40 minutes answering questions about allegations of sporting fraud during his time at the then-Serie B club Siena in 2011, brought by his former player Filippo Carobbio.
Carobbio claimed that he knew that one game at least between Siena and Novara in April last year was rigged.
"There isn't much to say, finally the day arrived where I could tell the truth in a calm environment," Conte said after leaving court.
"I restate my contentment at being able to tell my side of the story, this evening I'm returning to Valle D'Aosta [the base of Juventus' pre-season training camp] to do what I do best, win and be a coach."
Siena have already been fined €50,000 (£40,000) and around 50 people have been arrested in the investigations into the latest Italian match-fixing scandal.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

GIGI BUFFON - JUVENTUS’ NUMBER 10?


The whispers are becoming louder in the Bianconeri camp. Rumour suggest that the "Grande" Buffon could be next to take hold of Alessandro Del Piero’s coveted jersey.

Alessandro Del Piero - Juventus
The number 10 jersey represents a historic value at the Turin giants, as some of their greatest players have worn and honoured the number.
Now reports have emerged that Buffon is planning to take hold of the shirt for himself, in order to put an end to the friction between the competing players of the team to get the jersey.
Gigi Buffon - Italy


Sebastian Giovinco is reportedly interested in gracing the shirt with his shoulders, and has several contenders in the camp already including some new signings.

Moreover, Juventus are also interested in signing Fiorentina starlet Stevan Jovetic, who could also have a strong interest in wearing the jersey that is prized in Turin.

Buffon currently wears his favourite number one, and will have to leave his shirt vacant in order to get hold of the number 10.

The Gazzetta dello Sport report that the initiative by the goalkeeper is also an attempt by the veteran to save any new player, which wears the jersey, from the crumbling expectations of living up to the legendary shirt at the Old Lady.

President Andrea Agnelli has also stated in a recent statement that the he will not be having any say in deciding upon the successor for the coveted shirt, and insisted that he would prefer leaving the matter for the players to decide among themselves.

If Buffon chooses to take on the jersey, this will not be his first time wearing a number other than his favourite digit 1, as he also wore the No. 77 and 88 during his stint with Parma.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Jovetic will cost over €30m


Originally posted by:  Football Italia  

Fiorentina insist that they don’t intend to sell Stevan Jovetic, but they will consider bids of over €30m for him.

The Montenegro international has been heavily linked with a move toJuventus over the last few days, but the Viola maintain that they have received no offer for the talent.

“He’s a player who has the potential to become a footballer like FrancescoTotti and we’re not selling him,” Fiorentina sporting director Daniele Pradetold Sport Italia. “We’ve said that for some time now.

“Saying that, we admit that there is an agreement with the player that should an offer which hits a certain figure arrive then we will sit down around a table and evaluate it.

“Up to now, though, we have never received an offer for him. Seeing as he is a top player, we will only considers bids which are over €30m…”

Speculation has suggested that the Italian champions have offered cash and the services of Alessandro Matri in return for the 22-year-old forward.

“We’ve never spoken about him with Juventus director general Beppe Marotta,” the former Roma official continued.

“Matri? He is a strong player, but he has a salary which is not within our parameters.”

Juventus in surprise bid for Inter Milan striker Pazzini


Tuttosport says Juve GM Beppe Marotta has held talks with Inter chief Marco Branca about a price for Pazzini.

 Inter are ready to sell their unsettled centre-forward, but will insist on the €18 million they paid Sampdoria for him to do any deal.

Juve coach Antonio Conte is eager to add Pazzini to his squad and a part-swap involving Milos Krasic will be discussed today.

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Elia Leaves Juventus For Werder Bremen


By Kirsten Schlewitz c/o sbnation.com

Multiple reports suggest that Eljero Elia to Werder Bremen will be official on Monday. The Dutch midfielder has been signed to a four-year deal.
Eljero Elia 
Eljero Elia has passed a medical and his signing with Werder Bremen will be made official on Monday, multiple sources are reporting. The midfielder signed a four-year deal with Juventus less than a year ago, but played just four times with the bianconeri, starting just once. So it's back to the Bundesliga for the Dutch international, with Bremen hoping he'll have an easier time of it in Germany.

Truth be told, it wasn't the lack of Elia's skills that left him unchosen in Turin. Rather, it was Antonio Conte's choice of system, his near insistence at the use of a 3-5-2, that hurt the Dutchman's chances. When originally signed by the Old Lady, Conte favored a 4-3-3, which would have allowed greater use of Elia.

Now it's up to Thomas Schaaf to make good on the midfielder. For his team, of course, but also for the poor Dutch, who desperately need a little hope when it comes to international play.

Arsenal: We will let RVP go to Juventus




Arsenal are prepared to let Robin van Persie go to Juventus rather than sell him to another Premier League side.

The Dutch striker has returned from holiday and was on the Caribbean island of Aruba when a statement was released in his name by agent Kees Vos announced that he would not be seeking a new deal with the Gunners.

The Sunday Mirror reports that he will be holding talks with manager Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis in an attempt to sort out the mess. However, The People claims that Arsene Wenger will let van Persie go to Serie A side Juventus for £15million rather than to Manchester City.

The paper adds that Arsenal will not be holding van Persie to the final year of his contract after he questioned the club’s ambition but that line is contested by the Mail on Sunday which claims that Arsenal are willing to hold him to his current deal rather than let the saga disrupt their pre-season preparations in the manner that the Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri affairs dragged on last summer. Wenger has previously said publicly he will allow that to happen his point presumably being that when van Persie’s current deal with Arsenal does expire then he will be pushing 30 (he turns 30 in August 2013) and would be unable to command the wages he is currently demanding.

The People’s claims come after recent reports of a £30million valuation of van Persie by Arsenal as well as reports that the Italian side will match any wage offer by Manchester City. That is said to be around £220,000 a week. The Mirror reports that City will also make an opening bid of no more than £15million.

There are also claims that van Persie’s international team-mate Nigel de Jong has been trying to persuade him to move to Manchester City while the Mirror claims Arsenal officials fear Real Madrid will enter the bidding. That sounds unlikely given the number of strikers in the Real squad and the difficulty the club is having shifting fringe members of its squad. Reports yesterday of a bid from Real’s rivals Barcelona appear to be wide of the mark. The striker is keen to join the Catalan side but Barca’s priorities this summer lie in defence rather than in attack and the club have spurned any advances from van Persie’s representatives.

Saturday, July 7, 2012

Juventus winger Krasic open to Premier League move, reveals agent

The 27-year-old will only accept a transfer to England, Spain or Germany, according to his representative, with the player rejecting a loan move to Tottenham last January

By Alex Mott c/o Goal.com


Milos Krasic - Juventus (Getty Images)


Juventus winger Milos Krasic is only interested in a move to one of Europe's big clubs, according to his agent Dejan Joksimovic.

The Serbia international failed to secure a starting place in Antonio Conte's team last season, but with a host of Russian and Italian clubs leading the race to sign the 27-year-old, his representative has confirmed he will think only of a move to England, Spain or Germany.

Tottenham had a loan bid accepted for Krasic in January, only for the winger to turn down the deal as his preference, reportedly, was a permanent move.

"Are CSKA Moscow, Zenit St Petersburg or Anzhi Makhachkala interested?" he toldCalciomercato.com. "The papers can write what they want, but I am Milos' agent and I guarantee that no offers have arrived.
"In any case, the situation is clear - he will not return to Russia, or go to the Turkish league, he will only accept offers from top English, Spanish or German clubs.

"Juventus did not let him leave when there was interest from Inter and some Premier League clubs [in January]."If no top club tries this time, Milos will not move. He is prepared to stay and spend a year not playing. He believes he will get chances at a higher level. The discussion does not change and he will not drop down."

Krasic made only seven Serie A appearances for the Bianconeri last season, and managed to score a solitary goal.

Zenit St.Petersburg take another shot at Pepe

Last year, Zenit St. Petersburg's bid to bring Simone Pepe to Russia fell apart but they are taking aim once again in hopes of recruiting the Juventus winger. Pepe's own agent has acknowledged that Zenit's rumored interest is not just mere rumors.

For the last two months, Juventus has planned to increase the 28 year old players contract while Zenit has reportedly tried to tempt Pepe to join them in Russia.

Tuttosport reported, Zenit coach, Luciano Spalleti is looking for players who can strengthen the attack. For that Zenit look to Pepe believing he is prepared to leave Turin. Juventus executives expect Zenit to make a bid on Pepe. Pepe has stated that he does not take the possibility of moving to Russia into account, but a million dollar contract could change his mind. Juventus would hope to gain approximately 10 million from the sale which would be reinvested immediately.
Pepe played 31 times in Serie A last season, scoring a total of six goals.

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