Juan Cuadrado

[Socrates 7963]

Cuadrado set for Juventus medical

http://www.football-italia.net/71543/cuadrado-set-juventus-medical?

Aug 24, 2015

Juan Cuadrado will arrive in Italy tonight, and will have his Juventus medical tomorrow.

The winger is set to join from Chelsea on a €1.5m loan deal, but it’s not yet clear whether there will be an option or obligation to buy included in the deal.

TuttoJuve expects the Colombian international to arrive at Milan’s Malpensa airport at 11pm Italian time [10pm UK time], before taking his medical and signing the loan deal tomorrow.

Cuadrado only joined the Stamford Bridge side in January, moving from Fiorentina in a deal worth €33m, but has failed to force his way into Jose Mourinho’s plans.

[Socrates 7963]

Cuadrado Set To Complete Loan Deal To Juventus

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/chelsea-midfielder-set-to-complete-loan-deal-to-juventus/?

Aug 24, 2015

Juventus are edging ever closer to completing a deal for Chelsea midfielder Juan Cuadrado after the Bianconeri agreed a fee with the Premier League side.

The Colombian International only joined the current English champions last January for an estimated €35 million, but has since found his playing chances limited and a summer departure now seems inevitable.

Sky Sport Italia have confirmed that the former Fiorentina man will join Juve on a one-year loan deal for a fee of around €2 million.

There is still the possibility that the player will join the club on a permanent basis following the end of next season, but a fixed fee has yet to be arranged.

Juventus sporting director Giuseppe Marotta spoke on Sunday before the side’s loss to Udinese and declared that the transfer between the two parties is imminent.

“Cuadrado will arrive on loan. It could be made official as soon as tomorrow,” said Marotta to Sport Mediaset.

[Socrates 7963]

Juventus confirm Cuadrado arrival

The Bianconeri have reportedly agreed a loan deal with Chelsea for the
Colombia international, who only arrived at Stamford Bridge in January.

http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4682/transfer-zone/2015/08/24/14726632/-?

Aug 24, 2015

Juventus have confirmed Juan Cuadrado's arrival in Italy ahead the winger's proposed move from Chelsea.

As reported by Goal, the Bianconeri made a move for the Colombia international after the Blues decided to back down on their initial demand for a straight-cash deal and instead make the 27-year-old available on loan, but with a view to a permanent deal at the end of the 2015-16 season.

Cuadrado thus flew to Italy on Monday evening and is now expected to finalise his transfer to the Italian champions on Tuesday.

Indeed, Bianconeri announced upon the player's arrival at Milan Malpensa airport: "He's arrived. And he immediately found an extraordinary welcome."

JuventusFC ✔@juventusfc
È arrivato! E ha trovato subito un accoglienza straordinaria! #WelcomeCuadrado

Cuadrado only joined the Blues in January, with the English outfit agreeing to pay Fiorentina an initial £23.3 million (€32m) for the versatile attacker.

However, after struggling to break into Jose Mourinho's starting line-up upon his move to Stamford Bridge, the former Udinese ace slipped further down the pecking order following the signing of Pedro from Barcelona last week.

[Socrates 7963]

Juventus confirm Juan Cuadrado arrival
in Italy for loan from Chelsea

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/2580118/juventus-confirm-juan-cuadrado-arrival-in-italy-for-loan?

Aug 24, 2015

Juventus appear to be moving closer to the expected signing of Chelsea's Juan Cuadrado after releasing pictures of the winger being welcomed in Italy.

Juve chief executive Giuseppe Marotta was quoted over the weekend saying the Champions League finalists were hopeful of landing the Colombia international on loan.

The Turin club have now further declared their interest by releasing a brief clip of the 27-year-old apparently being mobbed by fans on arrival at Malpensa Airport in northern Italy.

JuventusFC ✔@juventusfc
È arrivato! E ha trovato subito un accoglienza straordinaria! #WelcomeCuadrado

The tweet said: "He's arrived! He quickly found an extraordinary welcome! #WelcomeCuadrado."

Cuadrado himself said he is looking forward to wearing the Juve shirt, while he was surprised by the reception he received from the club's supporters.

"I didn't expect it but it was a great welcome and something that spurs you on perform well," he told Juve's official website.

"Juventus are a great team and one of the best in Europe. We've got everything it takes to fight for the Scudetto and we hope to defend our title. I'm here to give 100 percent, work hard and prepare well for every game."

Cuadrado, one of Colombia's star players at last year's World Cup, has failed to make an impact at Stamford Bridge since moving from Fiorentina for an initial £23.3 million in February.

He signed a four-and-a-half year contract at Chelsea but it seems the club are already willing to allow him to play elsewhere.

[Socrates 7963]

JUAN CUADRADO IN TURIN FOR JUVENTUS MOVE

http://www.juvefc.com/juan-cuadrado-in-turin-for-juventus-move/?

Aug 25, 2015

Juan Cuadrado has arrived in Turin ahead of completing a loan move to Juventus.

The Colombian winger touched down in Milan before making his way to Turin to complete his €1.5m loan move from Chelsea.

Cuadrado is expected to complete his Juventus medical tomorrow before being presented by the club but it’s not yet clear whether the deal includes an option to buy the player.

A group of Juventus supporters gave the player a lively welcome back to Italy before he gave his first Juventus interview.

[Socrates 7963]

Cuadrado: ‘Welcome gives me strength’

http://www.football-italia.net/71556/cuadrado-%E2%80%98welcome-gives-me-strength%E2%80%99?

Aug 25, 2015

Chelsea’s Juan Cuadrado is in Turin to complete a move to Juventus and says: ‘To feel so welcome gives me strength.’

The Colombia international arrived in Turin last night and is expected to undergo his medical with the Old Lady today before completing an expected €1.5m loan deal.

“I wasn’t expecting such a welcome, but to feel the warmth of the people and of Italy, where I’ve always been accommodated very well, it makes me feel happy,” he said to Juventus’ official website.

"Yes, of course, the enthusiasm of the fans will always be important for us, to feel as welcome as this gives me more strength to do well.

"Juventus are a great team, one of the best teams in Europe. They have everything needed to fight for the Scudetto again.

“Now we’re starting and we hope with God's help to defend everything that has represented Juventus, and to defend the title.

"I expect to give my best 100%, to prepare well for every game and then the Coach will decide.

“I just have to work 100% and play my game. Greetings and a hug to all the Juventus fans.”

[Socrates 7963]

Cuadrado Targets Scudetto Defence

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/new-juventus-winger-targets-scudetto-defence/?

Aug 25, 2015

New Juventus signing Juan Cuadrado has spoken following his return to Serie A from Premier League champions Chelsea, and has targeted success at the Bianconeri.

The Colombian moved to Stamford Bridge from Fiorentina for a fee in the region of €23.5 million in January, but has since failed to secure himself a regular place in Jose Mourinho’s team.

The winger revealed his delight at the move when speaking to the official club website.

“The reception given to me by the fans will give me strength to do well,” Cuadrado began.

“Juventus are a great team, the best in Italy,” he added.

“We have to battle for the Scudetto, we hope to defend what has always been ours.

“I will always give 100% for the club, then, it is up to the coach to pick me.”

The 27-year-old featured 12 times for Chelsea in their title-winning season, with just four of these appearances being starts. He failed to contribute either a single goal or assist during his time in London.

[Socrates 7963]

Juventus seal Cuadrado deal

The winger joined Chelsea from Fiorentina in January
but returns to Serie A following the Blues' capture of Pedro.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2015/08/25/14742062/-?

Aug 25, 2015

Juventus have announced they have signed Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado on a season-long loan deal until June 2016.

The Colombia international only joined the Blues from Fiorentina in January, but the club's capture of Pedro from Barcelona means he is already surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge.

Cuadrado will instead form part of Massimiliano Allegri's new-look Juve side, which has been weakened by the summer departures of Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo.

However, the winger is the latest of a host of new arrivals in Turin, with Sami Khedira, Mario Mandzukic, Alex Sandro and Paulo Dybala among 12 new faces at the club.

The 27-year-old could make his debut against Roma on August 30.

[Socrates 7963]

Juan Cuadrado signs for Juventus
from Chelsea on season-long loan

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/2580504/juventus-sign-juan-cuadrado-from-chelsea-on-season-loan?

Aug 25, 2015

Juventus have completed the signing of Chelsea's Juan Cuadrado on a season-long loan.

Cuadrado, who only moved to Stamford Bridge from Fiorentina in January, passed his medical in Turin on Tuesday morning before putting his signature on the paperwork to finalise his deal in the afternoon, the Bianconeri announced on their official website.

JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen
OFFICIAL: @Cuadrado joins Juve on a season-long loan deal from @ChelseaFC

The 27-year-old, who also counts Udinese and Lecce among his former sides in Italy, joined Chelsea for a fee worth up to almost £27 million, including bonuses, after starring for Fiorentina but failed to impress during his brief stay in England.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho had backed the Colombia international to succeed this season but he became surplus to requirements after the signing of Pedro from Barcelona.

He now becomes an additional option to Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri for the trip to Roma on Sunday as they look to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Udinese at the weekend.

[Socrates 7963]

Official: Juventus sign Cuadrado

http://www.football-italia.net/71575/official-juventus-sign-cuadrado?

Aug 25, 2015

Juventus have officially confirmed the signing of Chelsea winger Juan Cuadrado.

The Colombian international had his medical with the Bianconeri this morning, and joins on a one-year loan deal.

“Juventus Football Club can today confirm that Juan Cuadrado has agreed terms on a season-long loan deal from English Premier League side Chelsea,” a statement on the Old Lady’s official website read.

“The Colombian winger, 27, will now link up with his new team-mates in Vinovo ahead of this afternoon’s training session.”

Cuadrado only had a brief spell at Stamford Bridge, failing to force his way into Jose Mourinho’s side after arriving from Fiorentina in January.

[Socrates 7963]

OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL: Chelsea's
Juan Cuadrado joins Juventus on loan

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/8/25/9195657/officially-official-chelseas-juan-cuadrado-joins-juventus-on-loan

Aug 25, 2015

Juan Cuadrado hasn't just been a Juventus transfer target in this current transfer window. It dates back a good amount of months, a good amount of transfer windows before that and obviously a huge amount of space in the Italian media devoted to the former Fiorentina man being decked out in black and white stripes.

Now, after all of the paper talk and ups and downs of the transfer dealings, Cuadrado has become a Juventus player.

The four-time defending Serie A champions announced they've signed the Colombian winger on loan for the 2015-16 season. There was no mention of a Juve having an option to buy Cuadrado next summer after the season-long loan deal — one that is rumored to cost Juventus all of €1.5 million — in their brief statement posted on the club's official website. From juventus.com:

Juventus Football Club can today confirm that Juan Cuadrado has agreed terms on a season-long loan deal from English Premier League side Chelsea.

The Colombian winger, 27, will now link up with his new team-mates in Vinovo ahead of this afternoon's training session.

You see, when Beppe Marotta talks about Juventus looking for opportunities in the transfer market, this is what he means. Chelsea acquired Cuadrado from Fiorentina for £23.3 million during the last winter transfer window. Seven months later and after all of about five minutes of game time, Cuadrado was signed on loan by Juventus for a fraction of that transfer fee. Low risk, high reward.

Opportunity, thy name is Beppe Marotta.

When it comes to Cuadrado, the main question is a simple one: Will Juventus be getting the Colombian who was one of the best attacking threats during his days at Fiorentina? Or will he be the one that failed to make any kind of impression during his half-season at Chelsea? Maybe, just maybe, a change of scenery back to where he was so good before he changed purple for blue will prove to be just the right remedy for a player who was one of the most sought after players in Europe a year ago.

OptaPaolo ✔@OptaPaolo
272 - Juan #Cuadrado completed more dribblings (272) than any other Serie A player over his spell at Fiorentina (Aug 12 - Jan 15).

[Socrates 7963]

Chelsea flop Cuadrado a perfect fit for Juventus

The Colombian has been shown the door after just over six months at Stamford Bridge
but he looks an ideal signing for a Bianconeri side in need of pace and versatility.

http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4659/editorials/2015/08/25/14742892/-?

Aug 25, 2015

Juan Cuadrado touched down in Italy on Monday evening and was promptly mobbed by Juventus supporters as he tried to make his way to the car waiting to whisk him away to Turin ahead of his proposed loan move from Chelsea.

Blues fans could be forgiven for wondering what all the fuss was about. After all, many are still trying to work out why their side decided to splash £23.3 million (€32 million) on the Colombia international during the January transfer window. They had expected to see the thrilling winger that had illuminated last year's World Cup in Brazil; a mix of industry and ingenuity that seemed certain to slot straight into Jose Mourinho's first team - yet ended up appearing unworthy of the reserves.

Juve, though, could barely contain their excitement at having agreed a loan deal with Chelsea for the former Fiorentina ace. "He's arrived!" read a message released on their official Twitter feed on Monday. "And he immediately got an extraordinary welcome."

And that was in Milan! Cuadrado is guaranteed an even warmer greeting in Turin. The sense of excitement among the Bianconeri faithful is understandable, though. Cuadrado has attracted attention since he first arrived in Italy in 2009, when he joined Udinese from Independiente Medellin. Indeed, Mourinho - then in his second and final season at Inter - was immediately taken with the Colombian and never stopped tracking his progress.

Despite spending two years in Udine, it was only during a loan spell at Lecce during the 2011-12 season that Cuadrado really began to prosper, earning himself a move to Fiorentina, where he flourished, becoming one of the most exciting and versatile wing-backs in Serie A.

Former Viola forward Luca Toni was so awestruck by a particularly energetic and incisive display against Juventus three years ago that he jokingly asked his young team-mate: "Did you have a scooter? It seemed like you were going up and down that flank on a Vespa!"

Juventus have been watching Cuadrado closely ever since. In February of last year, former boss Antonio Conte instructed director general Giuseppe Marotta and sporting director Fabio Paratici to sign the South American. In a bid to give greater versatility to a side reliant on 3-5-2, the coach wanted a player capable of playing wide right in both his first-choice formation and an alternative 4-3-3 system.

Conte may have departed that summer - tellingly, over a failure to acquire his chosen transfer targets - but the desire for tactical flexibility remained and has now been embraced by his successor, Massimiliano Allegri.

As Marotta acknowledged before Sunday's Serie A opener against Udinese: "Our interest is not in taking players for specific roles... If we search for players for only one position, we risk limiting ourselves to players not of the highest level."

The message was clear: Juve want new recruits of quality and adaptability. Cuadrado ticks both boxes as the personification of versatility; a player as comfortable attacking as he is defending. Indeed, the offensively-minded Brazil full-back Dani Alves last year welcomed Barcelona's reported interest in signing the then-Viola ace as his potential replacement: "If they can recruit him, then I encourage them to do it," he said.

Former Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Montella also noted after Cuadrado bagged both goals in a 2-1 win over Chievo in October 2013 that his most prized possession was not just restricted to playing on one flank. "Juan is unique with his characteristics, as he scored while playing wide on the left in a 4-3-3 yet almost netted again playing on the right in a 3-5-2. So, he can do anything."

Montella even came to the conclusion that Cuadrado had the requisite intelligence and vision to play off a No.9. In that sense, it is tempting to suggest that Cuadrado could also be the unlikely answer to Allegri’s pleas for a trequartista to be signed before August 31.

However, the smarter - and far more likely - option will be to deploy him on the right, with Montella explaining: “Cuadrado loves to play wide on the flank. He likes to 'feel' the touchline because he can be unpredictable for the opposition from there.”

Indeed, we are talking about a player that former Fiorentina and Bayern Munich forward Mario Gomez claims is on “the same level as Franck Ribery” and that Thierry Henry says is a striker’s dream: “He’s a special player. He can beat anyone at any time and he’s a proper winger also – that’s something you don’t see often now; guys that want to go down the line and beat people and cross. That’s what you want if you’re a striker.”

That will be music to the ears of Juve centre-forward Mario Mandzukic, who was not given anything to work with from out wide in the shock 1-0 loss at home to Udinese, with both of the hosts' wing-backs, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra, looking well past their sell-by-dates as they struggled to get up and down their respective flanks. As Fabio Licari wrote in his match report in the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport: “Allegri would have killed for Cuadrado.”

Still, Juve have belatedly got their man, a winger who offers blistering pace, endless energy and a multitude of tactical options - precisely what Allegri has been crying out for. Cuadrado may not have fit in at Chelsea, but there should always be a place for him in the Juventus starting line-up – whatever system they play.

[Socrates 7963]

Cuadrado joins Juve

http://www.football-italia.net/71575/official-juventus-sign-cuadrado?

Aug 25, 2015

Juan Cuadrado had his first training session with Juventus and thanked God for “this new opportunity.”

The Colombia international completed his loan move from Chelsea, which does not include an option to buy.

He passed his medical and started training with his Bianconeri teammates today.

“I thank God for this new opportunity. Forza Juventus,” wrote Cuadrado on his Twitter account.

[Socrates 7963]

Juve one of the best - Cuadrado

The Colombian winger was met by a rapturous reception as he touched
down in Milan ahead of completing a medical with the Serie A champions.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2015/08/25/14731592/juve-one-of-the-best-cuadrado?ICID=TP_HN_2

Aug 25, 2015

Juan Cuadrado has hailed Juventus as one of Europe's best teams, as he arrived in Turin ahead of his medical with the Serie A club on Tuesday.

Juventus have confirmed Cuadrado as a loan signing from Chelsea, with the 27-year-old having been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge throughout the current transfer window.

Fans of Juventus flocked to Milan Malpensa Airport on Monday to welcome Cuadrado to Italy, and the former Fiorentina midfielder claimed it was a pleasant surprise.

"I didn't expect it but it was a great welcome and something that spurs you on perform well," he told Juventus' website.

"Juventus are a great team and one of the best in Europe. We've got everything it takes to fight for the Scudetto and we hope to defend our title.

"I'm here to give 100 per cent, work hard and prepare well for every game."

Cuadrado has played just one game for Chelsea this season, coming off the bench in their 3-0 loss at Manchester City, and if his loan deal goes through, he will temporarily depart Stamford Bridge with only 13 league appearances and four starts.

During his time at Fiorentina, the Colombia international played 85 Serie A matches and scored 20 goals.

[Socrates 7963]

Di Livio: ‘Juventus perfect for Cuadrado’

http://www.football-italia.net/71609/di-livio-%E2%80%98juventus-perfect-cuadrado%E2%80%99?

Aug 26, 2015

Former midfielder Angelo Di Livio believes Juventus is the ‘perfect’ club for Juan Cuadrado.

The Colombian winger has joined the Bianconeri on a season-long loan from Chelsea, and the former Italian international believes he can rediscover his form in Turin.

“I think Cuadrado is a great signing,” Di Livio told Tuttosport.

“He’s someone who can make a huge difference. He didn’t play much in the Premier League, but in Serie A we remember him well, he had a great 2013-14 in Florence [for Fiorentina].

“I’m convinced that Juventus is the perfect club for the Colombian, who will have the right incentives to be consistent.

“I think Cuadrado can also play behind the strikers. We know the Colombian as a fabulous winger because of his pace, but I’m sure Allegri will also try him at trequartista.”

[Socrates 7963]

Cuadrado will make a huge
difference to Juventus - Di Livio

The ex-Bianconeri player has tipped the Colombian to shine behind the strikers
or on the wing, but predicts difficulties for his old club in their upcoming clash with Roma.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2015/08/26/14767252/-?

Aug 26, 2015

Juan Cuadrado has made the perfect move in joining Juventus and could help fix the side's problem in the attacking midfield position, according to former player Angelo Di Livio.

The Bianconeri have been in the hunt for a player capable of being the link between midfield and attack, but have so far been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Julian Draxler from Schalke.

Their search led them to Chelsea winger Cuadrado, who has failed to secure a spot in Jose Mourinho's first team after joining in January, with the Colombian moving back to Serie A on loan.

And Di Livio has revealed his excitement at the signing, stating the the attacker's versatility and flair can take the Old Lady far as they look to move on from the departures of Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal.

"He’s someone who can make a huge difference. Serie A will remember him well after his great season for Fiorentina in the 2013 season," the ex-Italy international, who also represented the Viola in his career, told Tuttosport.

“I’m convinced that Juventus is the perfect club for Cuadrado, who I think can also play behind the strikers. We know the Colombian as a fabulous winger because of his pace, but I’m sure coach Massimiliano Allegri will also try him as an attacking midfielder."

It is however unknown whether the 27-year-old could be ready in time for the Italian champions' trip to face Roma on Sunday, and Di Livio is of the opinion the early battle between the Scudetto contenders could prove problematic for either side.

"The trip is too soon for Juventus but the same holds true for Roma," he said. "Unfortunately neither side is in top condition for a match like that, so it’s difficult to make predictions for Sunday.

"In the long run, both are competing for the Scudetto, they’re the best teams to do that."

Both sides got the season off to a bad start last weekend, with Juventus succumbing 1-0 to Udinese at home while Roma were held to a 1-1 draw at Hellas Verona.

[Socrates 7963]

Cuadrado: ‘Always professional at Chelsea’

http://www.football-italia.net/71725/cuadrado-%E2%80%98always-professional-chelsea%E2%80%99?

Aug 28, 2015

Juventus signing Juan Cuadrado admits he doesn’t know why he failed to make an impact at Chelsea.

The winger has joined the Bianconeri on a season-long loan, just six months after joining the English side from Fiorentina.

“What went wrong?” Cuadrado considered in his presentation Press conference.

“The truth is, I don’t know. I was always professional, and I always trained very well. I didn’t play as much as I wanted, but I was always ready.

“This is not a step back, it was a choice, the best one for me, and I hope to give my best, and give everything for this shirt.

“I thank God, my agent and Juventus for this opportunity. It’s a new challenge for me. I’ve always been training, even if I wasn’t playing, and I always train with playing in mind.

“I hope I get the opportunity to get on the pitch [against Roma] on Sunday, it would be a pleasure for me.”

There has been speculation about where Cuadrado will fit into Coach Massimiliano Allegri’s plans, but the Colombian international assures he’s happy in a number of roles.

“I played in a 3-5-2 many times with Fiorentina. I’m always available for the Coach, so I’ll work hard in training then he’ll decide where I play.”

[Socrates 7963]

Cuadrado: I don't know what went wrong at Chelsea

The Colombian winger remains confused as to why his spell at Stamford Bridge
has not worked out well and is looking forward to a "new challenge" back in Italy.

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2015/08/28/14840402/-?

Aug 28, 2015

Juan Cuadrado remains unsure as to why he failed to become a first-team regular at Chelsea and is keen to make an immediate impact at Juventus.

The Colombia international joined the Serie A champions on loan on Tuesday after a frustrating six months at Stamford Bridge that only saw him make four starts.

Cuadrado struggled to explain why he could not make it into Jose Mourinho's plans, but hopes to put that behind him and be successful in Turin.

"What went wrong? The truth is, I don't know," he said. "I was always professional and I always trained very well. I didn't play as much as I wanted, but I was always ready.

"Moving to Juventus was the best choice for me and I hope to give my best, and give everything for this shirt.

"It's a new challenge for me. I've always been training, even if I wasn't playing, and I always train with playing in mind.

"This is a great move for me."

Juve travel to title rivals Roma this weekend and Cuadrado is ready to be thrown straight into action by coach Massimiliano Allegri.

He added: "I hope I get the opportunity to get on the pitch on Sunday, it would be a pleasure for me.

"There's plenty of competition for places here, I'll need to stay on my toes and be ready.

"I've played in both 4-3-3 and 3-5-2 systems that Juve employ, but regardless of the system, I'll give everything I've got.

"Roma will be a tough game, but we need to head to the Stadio Olimpico with the conviction that we can win it."

[Socrates 7963]

Juventus fan has Juan Cuadrado's
face shaved into his hair

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/2595921/juventus-fans-juan-cuadrado-tribute?

Sep 4, 2015

Having gone entirely under the radar during his ill-fated stint at Chelsea, it would appear that Juan Cuadrado has found himself an altogether more appreciative audience since moving to Juventus over the summer.

Fans flocked to the airport to welcome the former Fiorentina man back on to Italian soil and now one Juventus supporter has gone the extra mile in his bid to make Cuadrado feel loved again.


Mourinholic @Mourinholic
Juventus fan gets Juan Cuadrado's face shaved onto his head.

We don't claim to be experts in the field, but shaving dreadlocks into the back of somebody's head looks like no mean feat.

Honestly, we can't think of a more fitting tribute.

[Socrates 7963]

Marotta: Cuadrado 'like Tevez'

http://www.football-italia.net/72629/marotta-cuadrado-tevez?

Sep 6, 2015

Beppe Marotta sees “analogies” between Carlos Tevez and Juan Cuadrado, then explained Juventus’ Hernanes swoop.

The general manager spoke to the Corriere dello Sport newspaper about the many changes in Turin over the summer.

“I do see analogies between the arrival of Cuadrado and those of Tevez and Andrea Pirlo, as they too were signed amid scepticism and did great things,” said Marotta.

“Hernanes arrived on deadline day because we heard of this opportunity to get the Brazilian and contacted the Nerazzurri directors.

“They were open to negotiations, despite the fact this operation counted as a loss for Inter’s books. The rapport between the clubs has always been good, so rumours Inter didn’t want to sell any players to Juventus were untrue.

“In fact, thanks to selling Hernanes, Inter were perhaps able to buy another couple of players.

“Inter were very active on the market this summer, but we have a core of the squad that brought great success in recent years.

“We’ve got a great squad that won everything last season except the Champions League. It’ll be tough to better the 2014-15 campaign.”

[Socrates 7963]

So where does Juan Cuadrado fit
into Juventus' team puzzle anyway?

On the wing, stupid. Duh. It's obvious. (And I love puzzles!)

http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/9/11/9254149/juventus-juan-cuadrado-max-allegri-tatics-puzzles-serie-a

Sep 11, 2015

Out of all the players Juventus brought to Turin this summer, Juan Cuadrado is probably the most familiar amongst all of us loyal Serie A followers. We've seen some of the others play against Juventus, but none of them do so as many times as the speedy Colombian winger who used to rock a purple jersey the past couple of seasons.

We've seen him play against Juventus more than just a few times. We've seen him play well against Juventus, too. And, it won't be much of a surprise if you're paying attention to this chain, we've seen him play against Juventus somewhat recently. Like back in December of 2014 kind of recently. (That's not totally "recent," but it's within the last nine months, so that counts.)

On that day, Juventus and Fiorentina played out a scoreless draw that probably would have put me to sleep if it was a lunchtime kickoff in Italy, not a lunchtime kickoff here in the United States. It was ugly, there wasn't much of anything worth remembering going on, and it's not like it took myself all that long to be reminded of it.

But there's another video to show you all in this here post. It's from Cuadrado's Juventus debut, which occurred two weekends ago before the international break bored us all to death. Yes, he may have had an eight-month layover while he occasionally played games in a Chelsea uniform, but Cuadrado is back on Italian soil for the time being.

Cuadrado played all of about 20 minutes in his Juventus debut against Roma last weekend. You can understand why Max Allegri didn't just throw him to the wolves seeing as Cuadrado joined up with his new Juventus teammates just a few days beforehand. But come the end of the current international break, Cuadrado will have a few weeks at Juventus under his belt. Well, sort of seeing as he's currently learning the ways of Juventus while over half of his teammates are out on international duty.

The internal debate amongst many Juventini is just how Cuadrado, who is on loan from Chelsea and has option to buy next summer (because of course he is), will fit into Allegri's plans. Obviously we can't reach into Mad Max's mind and grab all the answers as we see fit, so we can rule that out.

But the thing about this transfer window was that Allegri was provided plenty of options. Not just within his favorite 4-3-1-2 formation, but also to bounce between formations in the same kind of fashion Allegri did last season. (That worked out pretty darn well, I might add.) And I feel safe in saying that

Cuadrado isn't a trequartista, which is something pretty much all of us can recognize, so it remains to be seen if Allegri will even think about trying him there. But we know that Cuadrado flat out fly in the same kind of way that the Roadrunner does as Wile E. Coyote chases behind without any kind of success.

Does that mean Juventus want Cuadrado to be a wingback and just have him bomb up and down the right wing in a 3-5-2 kind of formation? Or do they envision him as a an all-out winger if Allegri wants to go with a 4-3-3? This is the mystery (if you want to call it that) of bringing in a player like Cuadrado who is a quality player but obviously has a limited skill set that will keep him limited to a certain set of tactics.

But, the good thing is, he's versatile enough where it's not a one-and-done kind of situation as to where he's able to play. Yet he's not such a complete Swiss Army knife where can be deployed in any spot the midfield has to offer. This is what makes him such an interesting kind of signing, too. You know to some extent where he will play, but not we're not 100 percent certain at this point.

So where does Juan Cuadrado fit best? I guess we're going to find out soon enough.

[Socrates 7963]

Juve have secret Cuadrado option

http://www.football-italia.net/73185/juve-have-secret-cuadrado-option?

Sep 19, 2015

Juventus reportedly have a gentleman’s agreement to sign Juan Cuadrado from Chelsea for €22m.

The Colombian winger arrived late in the transfer window on a dry loan – that means with no option to buy – at a cost of €1.8m.

However, according to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, there is a gentleman’s agreement between the two clubs.

If they want to, the Bianconeri can buy Cuadrado outright for around €22m at the end of the season.

In order to be activated, this option would require the player and both clubs to ok the move.

Chelsea only bought Cuadrado from Fiorentina in January for around €31m, but he failed to replicate that form at Stamford Bridge.

He already seems to have rediscovered his confidence in Turin and impressed in the 2-1 Champions League victory away to Manchester City on Tuesday.

[Socrates 7963]

Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Juan Cuadrado, Paul Pogba Rumours

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2570716-chelsea-transfer-news-latest-juan-cuadrado-paul-pogba-christian-atsu-rumours?

Sep 22, 2015

Juventus are already planning to make the loan deal for Juan Cuadrado permanent at the end of the season, with Chelsea looking to use the transfer flop to leverage a deal for star midfielder Paul Pogba.

That's according to the London Evening Standard's Simon Johnson, who notes the Colombia international has adapted to his new surrounding quickly and already looks like a fantastic fit with the Italian champions.

Johnson believes the Bianconeri have the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season, although there is some confusion. According to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport (h/t Football Italia), the option is actually a “gentlemen's agreement,” requiring all parties involved to agree on a €22 million fee.

Cuadrado endured a nightmare spell at Stamford Bridge after completing a permanent move from Fiorentina in February, leading to a loan move back to Serie A this summer. At Juventus, he has quickly established himself as one of the team's top playmakers, whether it's as a winger or a classic No. 10.

His transformation from Chelsea flop to Juventus hero has been more than just a little unexpected, and the British media took note when Juventus beat Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the Champions League. Oliver Holt of the Daily Mail was impressed:

Oliver Holt ✔ @OllieHolt22
Cuadrado unrecognisable from player he was at Chelsea. Bright, ambitious, sharp. Looks like he has his confidence back.

Mind you, the surprise was just as big for the Italian media. As shared by David Amoyal, a translator for Gianluca Di Marzio, they barely paid any attention to the loan move when it was first announced:

David Amoyal @DavidAmoyal
Cuadrado brings a dimension Juve has been lacking for years, he was a complete afterthought for most when Juve signed him too

The 27-year-old seems happy and liberated in Turin, and as things stand, it's almost a certainty both Juventus and Chelsea will do everything they can to make the move permanent. The Bianconeri don't want to lose Cuadrado, and Chelsea want to recoup as much of their initial investment as possible―unless a deal for Pogba becomes a possibility.

Pogba hasn't had the greatest start to the season, which was to be expected after the departures of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal and the injuries to Claudio Marchisio and Sami Khedira, but he's shown flashes of his ridiculous potential in the past week or so, including winning the battle against City's Yaya Toure.

The 22-year-old was excellent at the Etihad, providing a superb assist for Mario Mandzukic and generally shielding the defence well. The Guardian's Barney Ronay was impressed:

Barney Ronay ✔ @barneyronay
Pogba's good isn't he? He also must be a contender for the title of world's strongest very skinny legs

Pogba's future has been a topic of conversation for years now, and plenty of ink was wasted linking the France international with a host of clubs this summer, per Quotidiano Sportivo (h/t Daily Express' Uche Amako).

A move never seemed likely, with Pirlo and Vidal leaving the club, but that didn't stop Dan King of the Sun from claiming a deal between the Blues and Juventus had already been made.

If Pogba does leave the Italian giants―which isn't as inevitable as some people seem to think―the summer of 2016 would provide the perfect moment. Pogba is expected to lead France at Euro 2016, and if he does well on home soil, his value should be at an all-time high, the perfect leverage when entering discussions about his new wages.

With Cuadrado impressing for the Bianconeri, the Blues suddenly have a potentially huge weapon in discussions. Up until this point, Pogba seemed destined to move to La Liga, with Barcelona often touted as the most likely destination, per Diario Sport (h/t the Independent's Tom Sheen).

The very best players in the world have routinely spurned Premier League clubs for a Spanish adventure―think of Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Luis Suarez and Gareth Bale―and a similar scenario seemed logical for Pogba.

But with Cuadrado, Chelsea have the opportunity to present Juventus with an attractive package that includes a player they know will be a good fit, and all the Blues will have to do is convince Pogba to move to west London rather than La Liga.

[Socrates 7963]

Juan Cuadrado Is Getting Back to
His Fearsome Best at Juventus

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2571950-juan-cuadrado-is-getting-back-to-his-fearsome-best-at-juventus?

Sep 25, 2015

The name Juan Cuadrado means two very different things to two very different sets of fans.

The first set—those of the Serie A and Colombian persuasion—picture an agile, lightning-fast, direct winger capable of dominating the right-hand flank and tormenting full-backs. The second—largely Chelsea supporters—see a man with a dodgy barnet who is incapable of running with a football at his feet.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we present the modern-day conundrum of Cuadrado, the player who went from hot to not in January with near-inexplicable speed.

Chelsea signed the Colombian from Fiorentina in the closing stages of the winter transfer window for £23.3 million, replacing the similarly priced Andre Schurrle, who had joined Wolfsburg at the start of the year. He was supposed to bring pace, width and production to a right side that sorely needed it, and in projecting the player to the Premier League, most experts felt good about the potential fit.

But there are no guarantees in football, and particularly when it comes to Jose Mourinho and wingers, history suggests things very rarely ever work out. Already the Portuguese has been through a small pile of excellent wide men during his second stint at Chelsea, with Schurrle, Mohamed Salah and now Cuadrado coming and going quickly. Wingers who look stunning at other clubs seriously struggle at Stamford Bridge, and the turnover in the forward areas is quite staggering, to tell the truth.

The problem is sourced in what Mourinho asks of a winger; the very bespoke role he creates for the man who plays at No. 7—opposite golden boy Eden Hazard—has got the better of several, and it will get the better of several more.

Tracking, pressing and running are the first three things the No. 7 must commit to. The only success story to date in this area is Willian, who changed the very fundamentals of his game to prosper and keep his place. The Brazilian, a skilful, creative wizard at Shakhtar Donetsk and Anzhi Makhachkala, learned to graft in order to stick around.

In 2013-14 Mourinho produced a 6x4 formation, favouring a low defensive block and picking four players to press high. A trophy-less season, sure, but it set the groundwork for the 2014-15 double. Willian emerged as a key player in this system due to his willingness to press, his tenacity in tracking and his ability to lead the side in transitional play.

In contrast, Salah and Schurrle were perhaps a little individualist to fully grasp this role, and with Hazard given relative freedom on the opposite flank, it’s important to maintain a semblance of structure on the other flank. Still, the fact he was a No. 10 pushed wide showed, with Branislav Ivanovic forming the total sum of the club’s width on the right flank.

The stage was set for Cuadrado to take this team to the next level; his love for the touchline and traditional winger tendencies were exactly what Mourinho needed, and on a tactical and stylistic level, the Colombian was a smart buy.

But it all went horribly wrong. Cuadrado did at least try, but the culture shock of such a different role (he’d always been one of the top outlets or key attacking pieces in his previous sides) led to a confidence crisis. All of a sudden he couldn’t even kick a ball, struggling to run with it, struggling to pass and failing to deliver any balls of note from the flank.

“He can't run, can't cross and can't shoot. Other than that, he's fine,” B/R’s Chelsea writer Garry Hayes bemoaned in June. A man transformed—and not in a good way—Cuadrado had gone from one of Europe’s most deadly wingers to a fluffy kitten chasing after a ball of twine in the span of three six months.

An abject performance in Chelsea’s International Champions Cup loss to Fiorentina—Cuadrado’s former club—on the eve of the 2015-16 season represented the final straw. Whereas Victor Moses (another winger on the precipice) worked hard to make his impact felt even though the Viola were dominating, his Colombian team-mate simply drifted, looking entirely nonplussed by proceedings.

He was shifted out on loan to Juventus after the services of Barcelona’s Pedro had been secured. Oscar, Willian and Pedro would rotate in midfield, one giving way depending on the game, and Cesc Fabregas, also capable of playing as the No. 10, provided enough depth to allow the Colombian to leave.

The kicker is, so far Cuadrado’s been very good for the reigning Italian champions. He’s a player they will have had their eye on while he was in Serie A playing for other clubs but the price tag was too rich; now, they get their man on loan with a cut-price permanent figure agreed for 2016.

It must be noted that his end product is still looking a little bit iffy, but the spark and dynamism we associate with Cuadrado is most certainly back. Juventus have endured a difficult start to their title defence, procuring his five points from their opening five games, but the Colombian is no concern.

Against Manchester City and against Frosinone, Cuadrado played from the right flank and put in exciting, impactful performances. Some jinking runs and accurate, troublesome deep crosses, mixed in with some hard work and studious keeping of the formation, have been the catalyst for a change in fortunes for the player

Against Frosinone, he even began to venture infield after 25 minutes to see more of the ball in key areas; he started beating markers one-on-one and opening up gaps in the opposing formation, initiating quick interchanges and upping the tempo of Juve’s game.

At the Etihad Stadium, he put in a stellar positional display on the right side, holding the shape of the team, and burst forward with gusto on the counter given the chance. The placement of some of his crosses—right in the sweet spot between the defensive line and the goalkeeper, where anything can happen—reminded of the Cuadrado of old.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise; it became clear during the summer that his form was only an issue at Chelsea, as while on international duty at the 2015 Copa America, he sparkled in Colombian yellow once again. “This isn't the Cuadrado I watched from February to May,” ESPNFC’s Miguel Delaney tweeted during los Cafeteros’ 1-0 victory over Brazil, in which he played a starring role.

Juventus may have started the season slowly, but Massimiliano Allegri’s main issues are obvious: an extreme drop in quality in the central midfield and striking positions. Carlos Tevez, Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo are gone, and it’s clear Paul Pogba is now carrying this side through the middle even when playing against the likes of Chievo and Frosinone.

Cuadrado has gone from being a last-resort asset in London to one of Turin’s brightest lights. He’s an attacking spark that Juventus now look to to make the difference in a game. It’s a welcome change for the Colombian, who is now showing his all-round best back in a league where he feels he belongs.

[Socrates 7963]

Cuadrado: Fans Should Believe In Juventus

http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/10/cuadrado-fans-should-believe-in-juventus/?

Sep 30, 2015

Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado says the club’s fans should have more belief in the Bianconeri after their 2-0 Champions League win over Sevilla on Wednesday.

The Old Lady sealed a convincing win against the Andalusian club to take control of their Champions League group and Cuadrado believes the result underlines that Juventus are a great team and are still very much in the title race.

“I’m glad I’ve settled in quickly,” Cuadrado told Sky Sport Italia.

“My team mates have treated me well and everyday I try to work for the team and do what the coach asks of me.

“I’m sure the fact I’ve experience of Italian football has helped me and also that the coach insists on playing simple football and having the strength to make a difference.”

Juventus have dropped 13 points in just six league games this season, but Cuadrado remains confident the Bianconeri can fight their way back into contention for the title.

“We’re doing badly in the league? These things happen in football, sometimes things don’t go well but I think the fans should believe in us because we are a great team,” continued Cuadrado.

“Already we are thinking about training tomorrow and hopefully we can improve in the league to get back into the race for the Scudetto.”

The Old Lady entertain Bologna on Sunday as they bid to reduce the gap on league leaders Fiorentina.