Juventus 1-4 Villarreal pictures

Juventus youngster Lorenzo Ariaudo - wanted man

With a number of Italian clubs still desperately searching for a centre-back ahead of the imminent season, one or two are now setting their sights on Juventus youngster Lorenzo Ariaudo.
According to Corriere dello Sport, the talented youngster could well become a protagonist of the last minute transfer market, should Juventus decide to send him out on loan so he can gain valuable experience elsewhere.
With Juve very unlikely to sell Ariaudo outright, Bari and Reggina have reportedly made enquiries about bringing in the youngster on a loan deal, promising the young star a much bigger role than anything he could hope to get with the Turin giants.
As Juventus continue to consider the options for the young star, who featured in the Champions League last season against Artmedia, it is almost certain that the Old Lady won’t let their boy go unless they really have to.

Camoranesi apologies to fans

Following Juventus’s shocking 4-1 defeat to Villarreal, Mauro Camoranesi has apologised to the Bianconeri supporters.

“We need to send apologies to our fans who were at the ground,” explained the Italian international.
“Losing in this way hurts, although this was just a friendly, which will help us understand many things.
“In Italy there are no teams which play the same way as Villarreal. They did cause us lots of troubles and we usually struggle against Spanish sides.
“With Real Madrid and Sevilla it was very different. Anyway, these games count for nothing it will be important to win in Serie A and the Champions League.”

Regarding the new formation adopted by Ciro Ferrara, the former Verona boy explains how he suits it.

“I have played with the trequartista all my life so it is no problem for me. I learnt to play 4-4-2 in Italy but the 4-3-1-2 strategy is good for me.
“This summer we strengthened the squad significantly. This club will return to success because it has quality and talented youngsters. It will be either this year or the next.
“There are several players here who will help us starting a new winning era.”

Source:football-italia.net

Cristiano Zanetti to Fiorentina ?

With recent reports suggesting Christian Poulsen could remain with the Bianconeri, it seems the Viola are turning their attentions to Cristiano Zanetti as their search for a midfielder continues.
According to Datasport, the Turin giants have slammed a €2.5m price tag on the head of the former Roma midfielder. Given the professional relationship between the two clubs following Felipe Melo’s switch to Juve, it is believed Corvino has asked to take the 32 year old on a loan deal as Fiorentina look to invest funds elsewhere.
Unfortunately following the recent injury of Momo Sissoko, it seems an eventual swoop could only take place if the Viola are prepared to buy the player outright. Given Zanetti’s current wage package, he would certainly have to lower his income in order to secure a future with the Gigliati.

Chiellini: Juventus Cannot Play Like They Did Against Villarreal

Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini is not pleased with the 4-1 friendly loss to Villarreal. The player claims that his side were sorely lacking in the match on Friday.
"Unfortunately, we were found lacking in many areas. Distance between the players [on the field], positioning, brilliance," he mused to Tuttosport.
"We cannot reduce everything to fitness. I think that we were even influenced on a mental level, even unconsciously."
The heavy defeat may have cast some doubts ahead of the new season, but the former Fiorentina player is hopeful the Turin-based outfit can learn from their mistakes.
"[Coach Ciro Ferrara] righly said that Juventus cannot allow certain figures. A 4-1 defeat is not for Juve," he suggested.
"Of course we can reassure the fans. The fact remains we are working well. We are excited after the success against Real Madrid [in the Peace Cup] and will not let this influence us even now. What matters is that by the beginning of the championship, you will see a great Juve."

The 24-year-old has been included in Italy coach Marcello Lippi's squad for the friendly against Switzerland on August 12.

Source:Goal.com

Inter And Juventus Set To Go Head To Head For Lille’s Eden Hazard

According to Tuttosport, Alessio Secco is preparing to go head-to-head with Inter after recently setting eyes on Lille’s Belgian prodigy, Eden Hazard. With a number of clubs including Lazio, Inter, and Chelsea reportedly tracking the 18 year old midfielder, it now seems Juventus are considering a swoop for the promising youngster.

Given Hazard’s technical capabilities as an attacking midfielder, it still remains a mystery why the Bianconeri are in search of such a player given they already have numerous options including Giovinco and Del Piero in a similar area of the field.

With the Belgian expected to remain in France for at least the coming season, it is believed the Bianconeri are set to keep tabs on the youngster who is currently valued at €7m. Taking into account the Nerazzurri’s interest in the player, Secco may have to hijack an eventual bid from Inter if he is to get his hands on the young prodigy.

Source : Goal.com

Juventus Renew Interest In Schalke 04's Rafinha

Although negotiations between Juventus and Schalke 04 appear to have ended over the potential transfer of Christian Poulsen, the Bianconeri are reported to be interested in returning to the Germans with a bid for their right-back Rafinha.

Ciro Ferrara is eager to add the 23-year-old to his exciting squad, but according to Tuttomercatoweb.com, he must sell Zdenek Grygera before he can launch a bid for Rafinha.

There is no lack of interest in Grygera, with Fenerbahce among the clubs interested in the 29-year-old's services, but Juventus are yet to agree a fee with the Turkish side. Fener have offered the Italians €4m for the Czech defender, but this falls short of Juventus' €6m valuation.

Rafinha was signed as a teenager by Brazilian club Coritiba, who also groomed Keirrison from an early age, and his impressive performances bombing forward from defence earned him a move to Schalke in 2005.

The Brazilian fell out with his club last summer, however, after he insisted on competing in the Olympics. Although Die Konigsblauen wanted Rafinha to remain with them for pre-season, the 23-year-old travelled to China nonetheless and incurred a €700,000 fine.


Source: Goal.com

Christian Poulsen Could Remain With Juventus

After weeks in which the Bianconeri have made no secret of their desire to sell the 29-year-old midfielder, reports this morning suggest that other events could lead to Christian Poulsen staying with Juve.

According to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, the ongoing injury troubles of Mohamed Sissoko, and the potential sale of Cristiano Zanetti to Fiorentina, have led to a change of thinking at the club.

While a deal for Zanetti is still some way off, the pink paper claims that an agreement between the clubs could be found in the coming hours. The Italian, who arrived at Juventus in 2006, is considered to be a capable replacement for Felipe Melo by the Viola hierarchy.

Juventus are eager to trim some of their midfielders from their squad and had put their efforts into trying to offload Poulsen, but were unable to find a club willing to take the Dane permanently. Any interest from Liverpool for the midfielder wilted, after they signed Roma's Alberto Aquilani instead.

While losing one midfielder would be considered good business by the Old Lady, they have also lost Mohamed Sissoko for at least another four weeks, due to an ongoing foot injury. This will cause him to miss the start of the Serie A season, and Poulsen may be needed in the first team after all.


Source: goal.com

Marchisio gets first senior call up

Claudio Marchisio and Domenico Criscito are the new faces for Italy’s friendly with Switzerland, but Marcello Lippi makes few other changes.

he Azzurri will meet up at the Coverciano training ground on Monday morning and fly out to Basle for the match the next day.

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Marchetti (Cagliari)
Defenders: Bocchetti (Genoa), Cannavaro (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Genoa), Grosso (Olympique Lyon), Santon (Inter), Zambrotta (Milan)
Midfielders: Camoranesi (Juventus), D'Agostino (Udinese), Marchisio (Juventus), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pepe (Udinese), Pirlo (Milan)
Forwards: Di Natale (Udinese), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Iaquinta (Juventus), Quagliarella (Napoli), Rossi (Villarreal)