Del Piero: My joy and regrets

Alessandro Del Piero takes on Roma tonight, but looks back over his Juventus career, three lost Champions League Finals and the World Cup.
In an extensive interview with Sky Sport Italia, the Bianconeri captain explains how he got to wear the mythical Number 10 jersey.
“When [Roberto] Baggio was not playing, I had that number because [Gianluca] Vialli wore the 9 and the other striker had 11.
“When Baggio left, the rule was introduced that a player keeps the same shirt number for the whole season. I was the last to wear it, so I certainly didn’t want to give it up!
“I grew up watching [Diego] Maradona, [Michel] Platini, [Marco] Van Basten, [Antonio] Careca and [Ruud] Gullit. All players very different to me, but I got great pleasure from watching them.”
The recent Champions League exit to Chelsea still burns Del Piero, especially as he was part of the Juventus squad that reached the Final four times from 1996 to 2003 and lost three of them.
“There are regrets for all three, because we were prepared in every occasion, but this can happen when it’s a one-off match and your opponent is just a tiny bit better on the day,” mused Alex.
“It might be destiny or many other factors, but once we deserved to lose, another time we lost on penalties and in another we should have had more. Unfortunately in these situations you have to give credit to your opponents.”
In between those Finals was a devastating injury that snapped all the ligaments in his knee in 1998.
“That moment was terrible and deeply difficult for me. My whole career was at risk. They were nine very long months, but it was an important journey from a personal level.
“I never thought of giving up, as I was convinced from the start everything would go back in place, even though there were many tough moments.”
Among them the misses in the Euro 2000 Final, which Del Piero put behind him with a goal in the 2006 World Cup semi-final against Germany.
“I called for the ball and later [Alberto] Gilardino said he heard me, so that proves sometimes everything goes the right way for you.
“After the goal I was already going crazy, but it got even worse when I looked up and saw my wife and friends in the stands. They were meant to be 20 rows further up, but I saw them right there in front of me.
“That was a very emotional and touching moment as, a bit like the goal, it was totally unexpected. There were two minutes to go and we were focused on defence, but then the counter-attack began and I sprinted off after it.
“Football is a team sport, but there are infinite moments of solitude where you concentrate and thoughts run through your head before a game.
“Joy is also shared and yet personal, as after a goal or a victory there is this ecstasy where you don’t understand what’s happening, throw your hands right and left, close your eyes and your teammates jump on you. Those are the sublime moments that sport can give you.”
Del Piero will end his career at Juventus, but there were fears it would not be the case when he was repeatedly benched by Fabio Capello and then the club was demoted to Serie B.
“I am extremely happy that I stayed with Juventus, because that was my primary objective. There were some events pushing me further away from Juve during that time, but this is the way it went and I am happy.”

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Giovanni Cobolli Gigli: Juventus Are Interested In Antonio Cassano

Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has confirmed his club's interest in Sampdoria ace Antonio Cassano.The Bianconeri are looking to replace Pavel Nedved with a top-quality creative player. Cassano seems to tick all the right boxes as Juve get their transfer strategy in gear. Gigli admits his club are observing the Italian player, fuelling speculation that they will sign him.

"Cassano is a great player and Juventus are observing such great talented players," Gigli told Tuttosport.

"We are working towards replacing Nedved and we will invest some money there."

If Juve are to land Cassano, it is likely that their investment will need to be quite substantial to convince the Doriani to part company with their man.

Reports suggest Samp want no less than €20 million for their player. Of that figure, €5m will be versed towards previous owners Real Madrid.

The Bianconeri have also been linked with Werder Bremen ace Diego and Valencia star David Silva.

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goal.com

Ranieri: «We will have to be the best Juventus»

Friday has become synonymous with Claudio Ranieri’s press conference. Saturday matches have become the norm for Juventus. A good norm when one considers the fact that the bianconeri obtained 12 points in the last 4 matches played on a Saturday with victories against Palermo, Napoli, Torino and Bologna. Now, Juventus must face what seems to be the hardest match on paper: that away to Roma. A big match, considering the great tradition and rivalry which separates the supporters, which will be definitely one to experience on both sides of the field: «They will be missing Totti? The people would like to always see players like him, Maldini and Del Piero on the field because they create spectacle – commented the Juventus coach – but this does not mean that Roma will be less strong. The public will play its part and drive the team just as they did against Arsenal». Absentees are not only the problem of Roma but also of Juventus. The coach however, still has something to smile about since Trezeguet and Nedved have been called up and Chiellini managed to recover a few days after the operation. «To decide on the names of the players to call up I will have to wait till the end of the last training session whereas I will decide about the starting line-up tonight. Last year we did really well with three forwards and it is a possibility just like the possibility of Giovinco in the starting line-up. Sebastian has broken the ice and he played well against Chelsea and Bologna. The trigger inside him has sprung and he must now continue in this manner». The tradition and the absentees do not manage to conceal the true meaning of the match, that is the importance of the winning prize. The 3 points are fundamental for Roma who are seeking to end up in the first 4 places and for Juventus who want to maintain their march at the top. «After last year’s championship we are having another great one but we want to achieve even more and we will not feel appeased – concluded Ranieri-. We will continue to evaluate our ambitions, independently of the position in the table, knowing that only Inter can lose this Scudetto. We must only continue to give the maximum and improve what we have done up to now. I like to be realistic and look at what is possible».

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juventus.com

20 called-up for away match against Roma

Following the fine-tuning training session in Vinovo, Claudio Ranieri has announced the names of the 20 players called-up for Saturday’s away match against Roma. The Jventus coach will have back three players who were absent against Bologna - Trezeguet, Nedved and Marchionni – as well as Chiellini a few days after the operation to his nose. In addition to these the list also sees the return of Knezevic after his return to the field with the Primavera last Saturday. Legrottaglie and Marchisio did not make it. The injured players list still includes Amauri, Sissoko and Manninger. De Ceglie, Camoranesi and Zanetti will continue to work on the field and will probably be back after the break for international matches. Below are the names of the 20 players called up for the match against Roma:

1 Buffon
3 Chiellini
4 Mellberg
5 Zebina
7 Salihamidzic
9 Iaquinta
10 Del Piero
11 Nedved
12 Chimenti
15 Knezevic
17 Trezeguet
18 Poulsen
20 Giovinco
21 Grygera
28 Molinaro
30 Tiago
31 Nocchi
32 Marchionni
35 Esposito
36 Castiglia

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juventus.com

Agreement with Istituto per il Credito Sportivo for the financing of the new stadium

Juventus Football Club announces that it has signed a loan contract with the Istituto per il Credito Sportivo for a sum of € 50 million for the duration of 12 years, in addition to a pre-amortisation period of maximum 3 years, destined entirely to finance the work for the construction of the new Stadium.

In the pre-amortisation period, the loan envisages the payment of six-monthly interest calculated at the Euribor 6 month rate, plus 200 bp. The repayment of the loan will be made in 24 six-monthly equal instalments, calculated at a fixed rate corresponding to IRS 6 years (which will be defined at the time the financing is fully received by Juventus) plus 220 bp. In addition, the loan will benefit from a contribution to interest as permitted by the regulations in force.

Against the financing granted, Juventus will provide the Istituto per il Credito Sportivo with appropriate guarantees (mortgage on the stadium building and pledges on future receipts from season and ticket sales), and will cede part of the receivables due from the Sportfive contract concerning the naming of the new Stadium and other minor commercial rights.

The loan contract with the Istituto per il Credito Sportivo makes it possible to complete the coverage of the financing needs for the construction of the new Stadium. The remaining part of the investment (for a total of € 105 million) will be covered through the advance receipts envisaged by the Sportfive contract and the revenues deriving from the sale of the adjacent commercial areas to Nordiconad Soc. Coop..

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juventus.com

Sebastian Giovinco: I Hope Juventus Do Not Boot Me

The Italian media are speculating that Juventus have finally come out of the closet and confirmed their interest in Sampdoria star Antonio Cassano. But the ex-Roma and Real Madrid man’s arrival could see Sebastian Giovinco move in the opposite direction because Samp reportedly want the ‘Atomic Ant’ to be included in the deal.“Will Cassano join Juve? I hope not!” joked Giovinco during a guest appearance on Italia 1 show ‘Chiambretti Night’.

“I mean, it’s okay if he arrives, but I hope Juve do not send me away.”

Italy boss Marcello Lippi will announce the call-ups for the forthcoming 2010 World Cup qualifiers on Sunday and host Piero Chiambretti asked Giovinco about his chances of being in the list.

“Will Lippi call me up? I don’t really think so…” replied the diminutive fantasista.

Giovinco has come through the Bianconeri youth academy but he could have ended up playing for local rivals Torino.

“Toro did not pick me because I was too short,” admitted the 22-year-old.

“I started playing football by chance, they were missing one player and I came along...

“I could not put up posters of my football idols in my room because we lived in a small house and I didn’t really have a room. I used to sleep on the dinette!”

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goal.com

Cobolli Gigli: Juventus Will Buy A 'Great Champion'

While Milan vice president Adriano Galliani has warned that the off-season transfer market will be slow in Italy due to the current economic crisis, Juventus president Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has reassured his club's supporters that they have sufficient funds to adequately bolster their squad ahead of next season.“I think there was common sense in Galliani’s words and I agree with him on several issues,” Cobolli Gigli told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“First of all, it is more complicated to manage a football team in Italy [than in other nations] and Calcio is lagging behind when it comes to structure.

“However, I have to remind you that Juve are the first club to build its own ground without jeopardising its sporting investments.”

The Bianconeri have been linked with a number of big-name stars in recent weeks, including Werder Bremen ace Diego, Sampdoria talisman Antonio Cassano and Valencia winger David Silva.

“We will be fine in the short-term because most of our incomes are guaranteed,” insisted the president.

“We have plans and are looking for a great champion to replace [Pavel] Nedved. We will obviously be very careful, but we have enough money for a big signing. This is our first objective but I cannot rule out other moves.

“Either way, we will certainly reinforce the team and Juve will come back even stronger next season.”

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goal.com

Atletico Madrid Make €8 Million Bid For Iaquinta

Atletico Madrid have made an offer of €8 million to Juventus for Vincenzo Iaquinta as they start their summer rebuilding plans early, according to a report. Los Colchoneros have tabled the bid to gauge the Italian club's reaction and know that they will probably have to find €4 million for the player's wages. El Mundo Deportivo state that Atleti have only three official strikers on their books in Diego Forlan, Florent-Sinama Pongolle and Sergio Aguero and want another. La Vecchia Signora trainer Claudio Ranieri has told the club that he would like to keep Iaquinta and is reported to have put the brakes on a move to Zenit St. Petersburg recently. With uncertainty over whether David Trezeguet will stay or not, the Juve coach does not want to give the green light to let another forward go until that matter is settled. Roman Abramovich is also said to be a fan of the 30-year-old former Udinese striker and could join in with a bid of his own to try and take the player to Chelsea. Atletico have made the first move, however, and are now waiting for a response from Juventus before they can move forward with the transfer or look for another goalscorer.

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goal.com

Chiellini And Nedved Ready To Play For Juventus Against Roma

Despite a long list of injuries, Juventus have managed to recover two of their stars ahead of their clash with Roma as Giorgio Chiellini and Pavel Nedved will be ready to face the Giallorossi on Saturday evening.

Chiellini has had successful surgery after braking his nose and is expected to be in the starting XI on the weekend, albeit wearing a protective mask. The Italian international will likely take his place alongside Olof Mellberg in central defence.

Meanwhile, Pavel Nedved, who has been out of action since picking up a knock to his ribs against Chelsea in their return-leg encounter at the Stadio Olimpico, should also return to the midfield to support Alessandro Del Piero and Vincenzo Iaquinta in attack.

The Bianconeri squad has been plagued by injuries this season. In fact, no fewer than nine players from the team are ruled out for the contest against the Giallorossi, including Amauri, Mauro Camoranesi, Mohammed Sissoko, and Nicola Legrottaglie.

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goal.com

Diego: I Will Leave Werder Bremen At The End Of The Season

With reports of a long list of suitors, Werder Bremen star Diego has claimed that he will likely move to a bigger club this summer.

"There is a strong possibility I will leave. I've been here three years and still have two more left on my contract. However, I've received several offers and it's right to take them seriously," the Brazilian international revealed, according to the Corierre dello Sport.

"For the moment, I only think about Werder Bremen, but in May I will meet with my agent to make the appropriate decisions."

The 24-year-old revealed that Champions League football will be a major determinant in his destination.

"Playing in European competitions is important. My dream is to win the Champions and I know that with Werder will be difficult to achieve. There are great clubs that have contacted me and I cannot pretend nothing had happened."

Diego has been in fine form this season, as a result being linked with European giants Inter, Real Madrid, and Juventus.

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goal.com

Two days before match against Roma

Two days before the championship match, Ranieri’s team continued to work on the preparation in view of the match in Rome. This morning the training session did not include Marchisio who worked in the gym together with Manninger after having suffered a blow to the knee during the match against Bologna.

The Austrian goalkeeper will have to wait till after the break to know more about his condition whilst for the midfielder the decision will be taken after the fine-tuning session on Friday. Zanetti and Legrottaglie were present on the field for a different work-load after having done their warm-up in the gym. Running and juggling made up their individual work just like for Camoranesi, Knezevic, De Ceglie, Marchionni, Ekdal and Trezeguet who after having worked with the group worked separately with the trainers to increase their athletic condition.

All the others worked with the ball through handball and basketball exercises, followed by team ball possession exercises in order to speed-up the maneuver and pressing against opponents. There were no problems for Chiellini who was on the field as usual, working with a protective arch on the nose during his second complete training session after the operation.

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juventus.com

Juventus Keep Eyes On Cassano As Agents Pushes Him Towards Turin

Juventus are keeping an eye on Sampdoria ace Antonio Cassano as the player's agent Beppe Bozzo pushes his client towards Turin.

The Bianconeri are looking for a creative playmaker for next season as Pavel Nedved is set to retire. A number of reports have linked 'Il Talentino di Bari' to the Old Lady, but he will not be cheap.

Tuttosport claim Juve are keeping Cassano on their summer hit list, and his agent is keen on the move.

"Juventus know Cassano well and they know he is always well liked by everyone," Bozzo told Tuttosport.

"Samp have given the player a regular role, and the results can be seen."

Juve have been treading carefully as potential transfers such as Cassano's will be difficult to push through. It is believed Samp want no less than €20 million for their man. However, the Bianconeri will need to offload some players in order to make up the funds for Cassano.

In addition, Werder Bremen ace Diego is also on the Italian club's radar.

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goal.com

We Want Nedved To Stay - Juventus Administrator Montali

Juventus administrator Gian Paolo Montali said the club will do everything to keep Pavel Nedved from quitting football because he is a good role model to the young players on the team.
Unless there are any surprising twists, the next two months will be the last of Juventus icon Pavel Nedved as a professional footballer. However, it's likely that many at the club will try to convince the Czech Ballon d'Or winner to stay on for one more year. Juventus administrator Gian Paolo Montali is one of those people. "What I wanted to tell Nedved is that he is an example, and players like him are a rare breed," he said to Sky. "It's clear that the only thing that might bother him is that he will play less in the future, because he is used to be a first team player, someone who is always on the pitch. "However, if he understands that his contribution to the team is of a very high value also off the pitch, with his behaviour, I think he could be convinced to stay another year. "He could really help these young players who are coming through. He always puts in a lot of heart and passion in what he does. With those qualities he could also become a very fine coach." Nedved joined Juve from Lazio in 2001. Since then he has won two Serie A titles, four if you include those revoked in 2005 and 2006, and was honored with the Ballon d'Or trophy in 2003, when he led the team to the Champions League final.

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goal.com

Cobolli Gigli archives Trez troubles

Juventus chief Giovanni Cobolli Gigli has downplayed the feud between Claudio Ranieri and David Trezeguet.
Trez was furious when he was replaced during the Old Lady's Champions League exit at the hands of Chelsea.
And the Frenchman's public comments landed him in hot water with Ranieri, prompting suggestions he could quit the club.
“I saw Trezeguet training with Ranieri yesterday,” Cobolli Gigli revealed.
“I think the argument was resolved by Jean-Claude Blanc's declarations after the game on Saturday.
“We need to be strongly focused at the moment and I hope that Trez will train hard and be ready when Ranieri calls upon him.”
There have been rumours in the Italian Press that Milan are plotting a bold swoop for Juve striking star Amauri.
“It's just talk,” Cobolli Gigli insisted. “Amauri isn't for sale - he is one of our great champions, like Trezeguet.
“They are very important to this club and their futures are linked to the club.
“As for summer signings, there is a list and Blanc is working on that with Alessio Secco. Clearly the first thing is to look for a replacement for Pavel Nedved.”
Juve take on Roma in a crucial encounter this weekend at the Stadio Olimpico in the Italian capital.
“It is an extremely important game, like any other” the Bianconeri chief said.
“We just have to try and win our next 10 games and see if the other sides at the top lose.”

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channel4.com

Tottenham Hotspur's Luka Modric Linked With Summer Transfer To Juventus

According to a report in the British tabloid The Sun, Serie A giants Juventus may make an offer for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric at the end of the season.

It is claimed that the Old Lady have identified the Croatia international as an ideal replacement for 36-year-old Pavel Nedved, who is set to retire when this campaign concludes.

The 23-year-old only arrived at White Hart Lane last summer after Spurs agreed to pay Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb €17.5 million (£16.5m) to acquire his services.

Although he has only found the back of net three times in 35 appearances for the north London-based outfit this season, the 5ft 8in midfielder has impressed with his all-round displays.

Apparently, when asked whether Modric could realistically join the Bianconeri, his agent, Sabatino Durante, replied, "He certainly could but a lot depends on the economic situation.

"Modric will not leave London for any less than €24 million (£22.5m). He has been one of the best midfielders in Europe for the last two or three years because he has just the right mix of quantity and quality.

"He can play in Nedved's position [or] just behind the strikers. Basically, he can do everything."

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