Juventus Striker Amauri Hopes For Goal Against Roma

Juventus striker Amauri was active in the club's 1-0 win over Chievo on Sunday, but did not get on the scoresheet and has made that his priority in round two, when his side travel to Rome to face the Giallorossi.

"The goal for me is to score against Roma," he said when asked about hitting the post against Chievo.

"Diego? With him we can all play really well, myself, [Alessandro] Del Piero, and [Vincenzo] Iaquinta."

Amauri scored 13 goals in all competitions during his first season at Juventus and is looking to improve on that number in the 2009-10 campaign.

The player is also expected to receive his Italian passport very soon and has stated his desire to feature for the Azzurri. The 29-year-old is expected to start the match against Roma next weekend, even if Del Piero is slated to return from injury.

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Juventus Nearing Deal For Lyon's Fabio Grosso As Rafinha Chase Stops

Juventus have abandoned their chase of Schalke's Rafinha and have focused their efforts on landing Fabio Grosso from Olympique Lyonnais.

According to Il Corriere Dello Sport, the Bianconeri are trying to reconcile requirements with budgetary constraints, leading them to give up on €12 million-rated Rafinha.

Coach Ciro Ferrara is working on adding strength to his defence, and Grosso has, once again, popped up on his shortlist. The Italian has been linked with Juve on numerous occasions.

The report suggests La Vecchia Signora cannot stretch to meet Schalke's asking price, and thus Rafinha no longer seems like an option.

Grosso, on the other hand, costs less. Lyon want around €2m, but the Italian side want to bargain and get that price down. However, the French are in no mood to comply.

It is said Juve will try to meet with Lyon's directors at next week's Champions League draw in Monaco in order to discuss Grosso further.
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Diego: «Our objective is to win the championship»

The first match of Diego in the Serie A is much more then positive with the Brazilian champion distributing great balls and even putting in the ball for Iaquinta’s goal.

«I am distrubuting the ball which is what I am here to do. We are playing well and I am sure we can improve further and do well. Our objective is to win the chmapionship.
I am feeling better even if I am not at my 100% . I must still improve but I am sure that soon I will be able to give even more. We want to do well and our will will help us achieve results.The most important thing is understand and create space. Italian football is comparable to continental football and the most important thing is the feeling with my mates».

Ferrara: «Three important points and a great first half»

Three official matches and three victories for Ciro Ferrara since he took over the team at the end of last season. The Juventus coach, however, does not choose to speak of this, perhaps even due to superstition, and concentrates on the victory against Chievo «which bring three important points and especially the satisfaction to have seen the team playing well satisfying me in the first half because they played an excellent match» stated Ferrara who went on: «In the second half we were a bit tired. Another reason to be satisfied was having seen players who last year had problems like Poulsen and Tiago, playing an excellent match».

Obviously one cannot help but feel satisfied with Fabio Cannavaro’s debut complete with applause following the summer controversy: «It was not easy for him but I had no doubt that he would have played as best he knows and I am not even surprised by the applauses because the supporters know he is a champion and that his contribution is important».

After having commented «the excellent first half by Diego, who then decreased a bit in the second, as was imaginable, since he has been working only for two weeks on full-time with the team», the absence of Del Piero «who is still suffering of back pains» and the part-time employment of Camoranesi «who is recovering from an ankle injury and so not in the best condition», Ferrara answered the question about the advantage over Inter, who drew against Bari: «It does not count much. There is still a long way to go».

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Barcelona, Juventus Or Inter For The Champions League - Claudio Marchisio

Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has made his Champions League predictions: Barcelona, Juventus and Inter are favourites.

Surprisingly, the Italian didn't mention last year's finalists Manchester United, the Galacticos of Real Madrid, or even Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea.

Marchisio believes Juve's summer investments in players like Diego and Felipe Melo will pay dividends on the continent and on the domestic front.

"Barcelona have the greatest chance [of winning the Champions League] compared to the rest," Marchisio told Il Corriere Dello Sport.

"Inter are there after they strengthened, but we are also aiming to win the trophy."

Bitter rivals Inter have dominated Serie A in recent years, but the Italian star is confident of breaking the Nerazzurri's stranglehold.

"We have always been close to Inter, and now we have strengthened I think we are even stronger than they are," added Marchisio.

Diego has been the outstanding signing this summer, and Marchisio believes the Brazilian will help in the conquest for trophies.

"Diego is a true Brazilian. We are getting to know him better game after game, and he will make the difference for us," concluded the Italian.

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Training: Tiago in a separate session, Del Piero, first part with the group

Juventus continue with their preparation in view of their championship debut against Chievo on Sunday night at 20:45hrs at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin. The bianconeri’s morning session today was under the observation of Jean-Claude Blanc and Alessio Secco. After the warm-up, stretching and athletic work, the team took part in a mini-match on a reduced field. Alessandro Del Piero worked in the gym after having carried out the first part of session with the team. Tiago worked separately.

Bari Sign Unsettled Juventus Midfielder Sergio Almiron

Bari have reportedly signed midfielder Sergio Almiron from Juventus, with an official announcement expected in the near future, according to tuttomercatoweb.

The details of the deal have yet to be released, but the move is expected to be completed as the player is surplus to requirements for the Bianconeri.

The player impressed at Empoli from 2004 to 2007, before Juventus snapped him up for €9 million. However, he was unable to replicate the form he showed with the minnows and was declared a flop after making just 10 league appearances in his first season.

In 2008-09, he was sent on-loan to Fiorentina, but fared no better in Tuscany, putting in a number of lacklustre performances before being relegated to the bench.

Nonetheless, it seems Bari are willing to offer the Argentine midfielder another chance to prove himself as they look to avoid being sent back down to Serie B in the upcoming campaign.

No Contact With Barcelona Over Juventus Defender Zdenek Grygera - Agent

Barcelona have not made an approach for Juventus defender Zdenek Grygera, according to his agent Mino Raiola.

On Wednesday, the Italian media had linked Grygera with the Spanish champions, as well as a number of Turkish clubs. Reports claimed the 29-year-old would find limited chances following the arrivals of Fabio Cannavaro and Martin Caceres.

However, Raiola has other ideas as he quashes the rumours, claiming his man will remain in Turin.

"Barcelona? There has not been any contact with them and I don't know anything about it," Raiola told Tuttojuve.com.

"There is nothing new regarding my client and therefore no other discussions to make. He wants to stay at Juventus, and he does not want to leave."

Grygera arrived in Turin from Ajax in 2007 and his current deal with the Italian club expires in 2012.

Alessandro Del Piero: I Hope To Be There Against Chievo Verona

Juventus legend Alessandro Del Piero is in confident mood, and hoping to play in the Serie A opener against Chievo Verona on Sunday night.

The captain has shaken off a recent back problem and he is in contention to feature as he aims to help Juve pick up their first points of the season.

"I am fine, the recovery is going well. I am aiming for Sunday and I should be available to play if everything goes well," Del Piero told the press.

"I hope I play and we are aiming to win. We want to start well, but it's the pitch that decides."

Winning the Scudetto is likely to be a race between Inter and the Old Lady. Del Piero believes his side have the qualities to wrestle the Tricolore from their bitter rivals.

"We have no reason to envy Inter. We know they are the team to beat based on the recent history.

"We have high quality and have strengthend well with the arrival of important players."

Del Piero has also defended Marcello Lippi from Jose Mourinho's recent jibes.

The Inter coach had claimed Lippi offended him when he predicted that Juventus would win the Scudetto, and a considerable row between both men followed.

"I hope Lippi doesn't make a mistake in his prediction seeing that he got it right last year," added the captain.

"Was it a lack of respect? I was not offended when he said Inter would win it last year. There was nothing wrong in it."

Juventus Add Borussia Dortmund Defender Neven Subotic To Hitlist

Juventus are trying to secure the services of Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic, who is likely to arrive next season.

According to Il Corriere Dello Sport, Juve having been tracking Subotic for the last year.

A number of top sides are reportedly keen on the 20-year-old, but the Old Lady are trying to outfox the competition and reserve the player for next season.

Subotic has just renewed his deal with the Bundesliga outfit until 2014, and it is said his wages have been improved.

Nevertheless, Juve are ready to make their move. The Italian giants are considering a €12 million bid in order to secure his services ahead of next season.

The player has been added to a list that also contains Schalke's Rafinha and Cristian Zaccardo of Wolfsburg as coach Ciro Ferrara continues his defender search.

Earlier this month, Arsenal had reportedly shown an interest in Subotic, but the player's agent ruled that move out.