Socrates

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Buffon a doubt for Milan clash The Old Lady goalkeeper could miss the crunch match with Sinisa Mihajlovic's side through injury. http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/11/18/17462762/buffon-a-doubt-for-milan-clash?ICID=TP_HN_1 Nov 18, 2015 Juventus could be without goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon for Saturday's clash with AC Milan after he picked up a thigh problem playing for Italy. The defending Serie A champions welcome Sinisa Mihajlovic's side to Turin knowing victory will take them above their opponents and continue their recovery following a poor start to the season. However, they could be without a host of first-team members for the clash, with Buffon heading that list after he was substituted after 69 minutes of Italy's 2-2 draw with Romania. "Gigi Buffon complained of flexor muscle fatigue in their right thighs following matches with their respective countries," the club said. "The goalkeeper will undergo medical tests to determine his availability for Saturday’s contest against the Rossoneri." He could be joined on the sidelines by Stephan Lichtsteiner, Martin Caceres (both thigh) and Mario Mandzukic (ankle). A statement added: "Lichsteiner's condition will be monitored again tomorrow after receiving therapy today. Tests await Mario Mandzukic too after the forward sprained his left ankle during Croatia’s win over Russia. "Martin Caceres was substituted during Uruguay’s 3-0 win against Chile last night after feeling pain in the flexor muscle of his right thigh and will undergo an MRI scan before returning to Italy." http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Buffon and Mandzukic doubts http://www.football-italia.net/75939/buffon-and-mandzukic-doubts? Nov 18, 2015 Juventus confirm Gigi Buffon, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Mario Mandzukic are in doubt to face Milan on Saturday. The Bianconeri are getting their players back from international duty, though Paulo Dybala and Martin Caceres will return from South America tomorrow. Goalkeeper and captain Buffon went off during the 2-2 draw with Romania last night with a right thigh problem. A statement released by the club confirmed he will undergo further tests and “his availability against Milan will be evaluated.” The same goes for Lichtsteiner, who limped off 18 minutes into Switzerland’s game against Austria, also with a right thigh issue. Mandzukic “will be monitored” ahead of the Milan match after spraining his left ankle during Croatia’s game with Russia last night. Caceres picked up a right thigh problem during international duty with Uruguay and will undergo tests in South America before flying home. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Agent: 'Neto needs patience' http://www.football-italia.net/75945/agent-neto-needs-patience? Nov 18, 2015 Norberto Neto’s agent insists there’s no truth in reports he wants to leave Juventus. “We need patience.” The former Fiorentina goalkeeper has made only one appearance this season and Tuttosport newspaper claimed he was ready to leave in January. “Neto will not be moving from Juventus, he has a four-year contract,” agent Stefano Castagna told Calciomercato.it. “He isn’t playing? That’s not a problem, we just need patience.” It was always going to be difficult for the Brazilian to get regular playing time with Gigi Buffon ahead of him in the pecking order.

Neto considering Juve exit http://www.football-italia.net/75942/neto-considering-juve-exit? Nov 18, 2015 Norberto Neto is said to be considering a January exit after growing tired of the Juventus bench. The shot-stopper was a free agent over the summer when his Fiorentina contract expired and chose Turin, despite having Gigi Buffon as a teammate. According to Tuttosport newspaper, the Brazilian is beginning to regret that decision and would like a loan or permanent move in January. There’s no shortage of clubs in Serie A and beyond who’d be interested in taking Neto. He had pushed his way into the Brazil squad, but spending the season on the bench isn’t helping his cause. The 26-year-old has played only one match this season, a 1-1 draw with Frosinone on September 23.

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Morata: ‘Juventus still hungry’ http://www.football-italia.net/75935/morata-‘juventus-still-hungry’? Nov 18, 2015 Alvaro Morata insists Juventus are “still hungry” and targets victory over Milan on Saturday. The Bianconeri have started the season poorly, and currently lie seventh in Serie A after 12 League games, with the Diavolo visiting Turin this weekend. “Historically it is the biggest game in Italian football,” Morata acknowledged in an interview with JTV. “We want to win it, to climb up the table. We haven’t started in the best way, but it’s not been easy after changing so many players. “Now we know each other more, and we’re playing better every day. We’re still hungry for wins, and we want to return to our place, which must be at the top of the League. “This year our rivals have improved, they’ve reinforced and the League is very difficult. There are at least four or five teams who can compete for the Scudetto.” Morata also discussed the Old Lady’s Champions League campaign, with only a point from the games against Manchester City and Sevilla to progress to the next round. “I immediately felt that we had the most difficult group. Sevilla won the Europa League, City are a top European team and Borussia [Monchengladbach] have played really well. “So far we’ve done even better than last year, because at this point we weren’t so close to qualifying. Now we have two important games, and we have to win. “City [on Wednesday] will be a great night, as it always is when the Champions League comes to Juventus Stadium. We’ll play against one of the strongest teams in Europe and we’ll give everything to win.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Serie A - 13^ Giornata Andata - 21-11-2015 (ore 20:45) JUVENTUS - MILAN - Sabato, 21 novembre 2015 - ore 20:45 Juventus Stadium, Torino Arbitro: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Confronti ufficiali 216 - 160 (Serie A) - 22 (Coppa Italia) - 32 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Champions League) - 1 (Supercoppa italiana) Vittorie Juventus 79 - 58 (Serie A) - 8 (Coppa Italia) - 13 (Campionato a gironi) Pareggi 72 - 54 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) - 9 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Champions League) - 1 (Supercoppa italiana) Vittorie Milan 65 - 48 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) - 10 (Campionato a gironi) Goals Juventus 305 - 222 (Serie A) - 26 (Coppa Italia) - 56 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Supercoppa italiana) Goals Milan 287 - 210 (Serie A) - 26 (Coppa Italia) - 50 (Campionato a gironi) - 1 (Supercoppa italiana) Juventus - Milan - Serie A a Torino Confronti ufficiali 80 Vittorie Juventus 38 (L'ultima il 07.02.2015, 3-1) Pareggi 21 (L'ultimo il 12.03.2006, 0-0) Vittorie Milan 21 (L'ultima il 05.03.2011, 0-1) Goals Juventus 127 Goals Milan 98 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro il Milan a Torino 14 presenze Boniperti Giampiero 14 Del Piero Alessandro 12 Varglien II Giovanni 11 Buffon Gianluigi 11 Furino Giuseppe 10 Causio Franco 10 Cuccureddu Antonello 10 Depetrini Teobaldo 10 Salvadore Sandro 10 Scirea Gaetano 5 goals Boniperti Giampiero 5 Borel II Felice Placido 5 Sivori Omar Enrique 4 Anastasi Pietro 4 Charles John William 4 Del Piero Alessandro 4 Ferrari Giovanni 4 Inzaghi Filippo 4 Orsi Raimundo Bibiani 3 Bettega Roberto Ultimi confronti diretti 08.02.2012 Coppa Italia Milan-Juventus 1-2 25.02.2012 Serie A Milan-Juventus 1-1 20.03.2012 Coppa Italia Juventus-Milan 2-2 25.11.2012 Serie A Milan-Juventus 1-0 09.01.2013 Coppa Italia Juventus-Milan 2-1 21.04.2013 Serie A Juventus-Milan 1-0 06.10.2013 Serie A Juventus-Milan 3-2 02.03.2014 Serie A Milan-Juventus 0-2 20.09.2014 Serie A Milan-Juventus 0-1 07.02.2015 Serie A Juventus-Milan 3-1 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 7 - Pareggi 2 - Vittorie Milan 1 - Goals Juventus 17 - Goals Milan 9 da juworld.net http://www.goal.com/it/tables/serie-a/13

Ranking Juventus' Attacking Options on Their Goalscoring Threat http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2589288-ranking-juventus-attacking-options-on-their-goalscoring-threat? Nov 18, 2015 Many of the problems facing Juventus in 2015/16 have been defensive issues, the usually robust Bianconeri keeping just six clean sheets in their opening 16 games of the campaign. Yet they have also struggled in attack, regularly failing to take advantage of the superiority they have often enjoyed. Indeed the Turin giants have actually improved at creating goal scoring chances, with statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com highlighting the fact they lead the league with an average of 17.8 shots per game. But they have netted just 16 times this season, a tally bettered by no fewer than five teams and one which has led to questions being asked about the attacking make-up of the side. That is certainly something to consider, though there is little doubt that Paulo Dybala has quickly established himself as Juve’s most dangerous forward. “Paulo’s come on leaps and bounds, both from a technical and physical perspective,” coach Massimiliano Allegri said at a recent press conference. “He applies himself, wants to learn and after struggling at the start, he’s improved a great deal.” Dybala leads the team with six goals in all competitions, despite his three shots per game ranking only second-highest in the squad. According to WhoScored, Paul Pogba (3.5) takes top spot, followed by Simone Zaza (2.2), while both Mario Mandzukic and Alvaro Morata muster 1.7 attempts each. The Argentinian’s most recent goal came during a substitute appearance, and he insists he has no problem seeing others named to the first XI. “There are many players who are doing well, so I was not remotely upset at starting from the bench,” Dybala told Sky Italia (h/t Football Italia) after the victory over Empoli. OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 4 - Mandzukic has netted his fourth goal for Juventus: when the Croatian striker has scored, Bianconeri have always won the match. Amulet. But there is further proof that should be a rare occurrence if the number of shots is reduced to only those on target, with the same source showing that Pogba again ranks highest with 1.2 per game, with Dybala’s 1.0 seeing him in second place. Morata’s 0.6 attempts see him rank third, with Zaza (0.5) narrowly ahead of Mandzukic (0.4). The poor form of the latter is little surprise to see he is the most inaccurate striker. He has hit the target with just 33 percent of his attempts, Morata’s 55 percent leading the way. The Spaniard’s progress has been slowed by his defensive assignment on the flank, but if he made the effort to get into the box more regularly, he could certainly have more impact. As the table below indicates, he trails all attacking players in terms of shots inside the penalty area, while it also serves to highlight the overall superior attacking prowess of Dybala as well as the subpar performances of Mandzukic and Zaza. Morata’s only league goal of the season came in the club’s comfortable win over Bologna, and he admitted in an interview with El Larguero (h/t giornalaccio rosa World) that he has “struggled with injuries” and “not been playing in my ideal role.” Allegri needs to find a way of allowing the 23-year-old to do that, without blunting the impact of Dybala. They could be a potent attacking combination for some time too as Morata also told Spanish outlet Cadena Ser (h/t Football Italia) that he is discussing a contract renewal with Juventus, and everything is going smoothly.” That bodes well for the future, as the evidence discussed shows that Morata clearly ranks behind only Dybala as Juve’s most lethal scoring threat, with Mandzukic third and the disappointing Zaza fourth.

Stephan Lichtsteiner taken off "as a precaution" in Switzerland's win over Austria http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/11/17/9751550/stephan-lichtsteiner-injury-juventus-switzerland-austria-2015-serie-a-international-duty Nov 17, 2015 We don't know the severity of this, and likely won't be informed of it until Stephan Lichtsteiner undergoes tests in Turin within the next day or two. But when somebody comes off the field in the 18th minute of any kind of game, your thoughts aren't exactly swaying toward the most pleasant of variety. This is what we know is for certain: Lichtsteiner had to be taken off the field during Switzerland's 2-1 win over Austria on Tuesday night due to some kind of muscular injury. Shortly thereafter, the official Swiss national team Twitter account told us this important injury update: nationalteams_SFVASF ✔ @SFV_ASF Erste Diagnose zu @LichsteinerOfic: muskuläre Probleme im Oberschenkel, Auswechslung Vorsichtsmassnahme. Google translate tells me that lsat part is basically saying that Lichtsteiner was taken out of the game "as a precaution." Lichtsteiner has since confirmed on his personal Facebook page that is was a precautionary measure rather than because some kind of muscle in his leg just exploded. What that means for his status against Milan over the weekend — and subsequently a few days later against Manchester City in the Champions League — we don't know just yet. Even though we don't know what Lichtsteiner's status will be for this weekend until Wednesday at the very earliest, I guess we can hang our hat on the fact that this injury has nothing to do with his heart. I know for a fact that I wasn't the only one wondering how a guy like Lichtsteiner, who is a the human representation of a tank on the right wing, would respond after his heart procedure. Luckily, I guess you could say, it doesn't involve any kind of heart-related muscles. Leg muscles, not heart muscles. Here's your latest reminder of two things: International breaks are stupid. Any kind of injury to a Juventus player is stupid. Juventus players getting injured on international break? Also stupid. Yep, both are true. Feel better soon, Stephan.

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Trap: ‘Juventus-Milan wide open’ http://www.football-italia.net/75882/trap-‘juventus-milan-wide-open’? Nov 17, 2015 Giovanni Trapattoni believes Juventus-Milan is a game which “is open to any kind of result”. The Rossoneri travel to Turin to take on the champions this weekend, and Trap, who Coached both teams, can’t pick a winner. “They are two teams with important technical values, who are close together in the table,” Trapattoni pointed out in an interview with TuttoJuve. “It’s not for nothing that this is defined as a Clasico of Italian football. With all that’s going on in the world, let’s hope those fears don’t affect the players on the pitch. “Although there are clearly differences between the two sides in regard to the players and their qualities, the match is open to any kind of result. “Both teams show their qualities, they play a very modern and attacking game. In my opinion it will be very balanced, there will be plenty of stretched play across the 90 minutes. “Juve have shown an inherent sense of initiative, which characterises them, while [Milan Coach Sinisa] Mihajlovic has shown that he’s not afraid of anyone. “It will come down to the formation, the condition of the players - Juve have a few more injured - and decisive passages of play to decide the game. “On a tactical level they know each other well, attacking football is their doctrine. “I’m hoping for a spectacular game, because both are capable of putting on a show.” Trapattoni also dismissed suggestions the Bianconeri are weak in defence, and believes they can get back into the Scudetto race. “Juventus weak in defence? No, absolutely not. They’ve conceded some strange goals, but the goalkeeper [Gigi Buffon] is a guarantee. “Juve aren’t showing any apparent fear, they have players who know what to do such as Chellini. They have a good midfield, and one of the best attacks. “I’m convinced that they can recover, although they have a few opponents in front of them. It’s not easy to surpass them all. “Who is the best? Fiorentina are playing good, vibrant football. The League comes alive now, but spring is the moment of truth.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni De Jong to miss Juventus clash with thigh injury The Dutch midfielder, who has featured only four times in Serie A this season, will not be available for the clash against the defending champions in Turin on Saturday. http://www.goal.com/en/news/723/serie-a/2015/11/17/17414922/-? Nov 17, 2015 Nigel de Jong will miss AC Milan's trip to Juventus on Saturday with a thigh injury. Milan head to Juventus Stadium unbeaten in five Serie A games and sit two points above Massimiliano Allegri's seventh-placed side in sixth. A club statement read: "AC Milan communicates that Nigel de Jong has picked up an injury to his left thigh and will have to undergo further tests at the start of next week." De Jong has featured just five times for Milan in all competitions this term and recently expressed his frustration at a lack of regular first-team action. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Breaking Down the Fantasy Team Juventus Could Have Had http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2589333-breaking-down-the-fantasy-team-juventus-could-have-had? Nov 17, 2015 Sitting nine points behind early leaders Fiorentina, the 2015/16 campaign has begun in difficult circumstances for Juventus. With a vastly altered side after a tumultuous summer, coach Massimiliano Allegri has struggled to create a cohesive unit from the club's raft of new players. The problems hindering him have been analysed in great detail, with the reasons for the poor performances of the team discussed at length here. As Juve have laboured, supporters could be forgiven for wondering what might have been, their thoughts drifting to the players who would be taking to the field for their beloved Old Lady if circumstances allowed. With that in mind, what follows is a look at the fantasy team Juventus could have had this season, adding those current players who were sold cheaply, were allowed to leave on a free or had their loans not made permanent in recent years. The team is broken down into each department of Allegri’s preferred 4-3-2-1 formation, but it also acknowledges that some of those who departed no longer wished to wear the famous black and white stripes of the reigning Serie A champions. Goalkeeper While Juventus have problems throughout the side this term, there is no man fans would rather see in goal than Gigi Buffon. The club captain has already saved his team-mates from even worse results, making some incredible saves and managing to keep six clean sheets, despite the defence ahead of him making mistakes. Backing him up is Brazil international Neto, who has featured in just one game thus far but was not at fault for Leonardo Blanchard’s late equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Frosinone. Indeed, the 26-year-old was excellent at Fiorentina last term, with statistics courtesy of ESPN FC showing he made 94 saves in 36 appearances for La Viola. Perhaps there is room for improvement behind that duo, with Antonio Mirante of Bologna the ideal candidate. Sold to Sampdoria for around €1.5 million back in 2008, the Juventus youth product has carved out an impressive reputation during six years with Parma and would count as a homegrown player for the Bianconeri. Full-Back Allegri is blessed to also have some reliable figures in the two full-back roles, with Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra both reliable. The former recently returned to action after a month on the side lines, and the Switzerland international’s importance to Juve was discussed at length in this previous column. Lichtsteiner’s strike against Borussia Monchengladbach secured a vital point for the Bianconeri, while Evra netted a vital goal of his own after the side fell behind in their last match with Empoli. OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 1 - Stephan Lichtsteiner has scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League on his 29th appearance. Heart. Behind the Frenchman, Alex Sandro has huge potential to make the left flank his own, providing defensive solidity and wonderful attacking incision, as he proved with a match-winning assist in the derby against Torino. His playing time has been limited following his €26 million summer move from Porto, but Sandro insists that does not worry him, as he revealed in an interview with Sky Italia earlier this month. “I don’t care about how much I cost,” the 24-year-old said (h/t Football Italia). “I’m working to improve day by day, both in defence and in attack. I’m still developing.” With that being true, there is no need for a fantasy addition at full-back for Juventus at the moment. Central Defence In the heart of the back line, Juventus are blessed to have three of the world’s best central defenders, although that is hard to argue given the errors they have committed this term. Andrea Barzagli lost his man to allow Frosinone to score, while Giorgio Chiellini made crucial mistakes against both Sassuolo and Borussia Monchengladbach. Leonardo Bonucci has also been underwhelming, but there is no player with ties to the club whom fans would rather see in central defence than those three. Allegri is comforted by the presence of Daniele Rugani, arguably the most talented young defender on the peninsula. The 21-year-old has made just one brief appearance as a substitute, but he is not yet concerned by that lack of action. “I’ve only just started at Juventus and I knew that it wouldn’t be easy,” he said in an interview with La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport just last month. "However, I must be ready when called upon.” With the experienced veterans ahead of him ensuring he learns the finer points of the role he almost certainly will be ready, and Allegri believes his quality is unquestionable. Indeed, the coach called Rugani “the future of Juventus” at a recent press conference, and urged him to be patient, which is something he is willing to do. Midfield While the defence and goalkeeper raise few questions, the Juventus midfield has been a serious concern throughout the campaign. Paul Pogba has struggled for form, while Claudio Marchisio and Sami Khedira have battled niggling injuries that have interrupted their respective form as well as team cohesion. On form, they would appear to be an excellent blend for the three-man unit at the centre of Allegri’s plans, while Stefano Sturaro proved to be a superb backup last term and played a vital role in their 2014/15 success. Mario Lemina and Hernanes have been somewhat disappointing, but while the departures of Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo have been lamented, there is little doubt both wanted to move on and were rightly allowed to do so. Attack Playing ahead of that solid selection of players, the likes of Mario Mandzukic and Simone Zaza have struggled since arriving in Turin, and there is no question Carlos Tevez is the most sorely missed player among those who left this summer. OptaPaolo ✔ @OptaPaolo 50 - The number of goals scored by Carlos Tevez in 96 games for Juventus (in all competitions): one every 155 minutes. Departure? Allowed to return to Boca Juniors for a fee of €6.5 million, according to Juve’s official website, having him in the current side would make a major difference. He netted a staggering 50 goals in just 95 appearances; his influence over Paulo Dybala would also have been invaluable to the future of the Bianconeri. Alvaro Morata proved last season that he is the ideal man to lead the line for Juventus, forming a wonderful understanding with Tevez that could continue in this dream scenario. Juan Cuadrado has filled the third spot, and Dybala could do well there, but Domenico Berardi might be an even better fit. The Sassuolo forward is beginning only his third top-flight campaign but has registered no fewer than 33 goals and 17 assists in his 70 Serie A matches to date. As his co-ownership with Sassuolo came to an end last summer, supporters would love to see him playing for the home side at Juventus Stadium as soon as possible. “Like every footballer, I’m working to fulfil my dream of playing for a great team,” Berardi told Sky Italia recently (h/t Football Italia), and he would be the perfect man to complement this ideal XI. Juventus 2015/16 Fantasy XI (4-3-2-1): Gigi Buffon; Stephan Lichtsteiner, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Patrice Evra; Claudio Marchisio, Sami Khedira, Paul Pogba; Domenico Berardi, Carlos Tevez; Alvaro Morata

Patrice Evra and France prepare for an emotional Wembley night http://www.espnfc.co.uk/blog/espn-fc-united-blog/68/post/2714500/patrice-evra-and-france-prepare-for-emotional-wembley-night? Nov 16, 2015 On Tuesday, Patrice Evra will represent France against England at Wembley. In the aftermath of Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris, it is a night set to be charged with emotion, with the English expected to sing the stirring French national anthem "Le Marseillaise". While the attacks took place, France were playing Germany at the Stade de France. At one point during the game's first half, Evra had the ball at his feet when a loud explosion went off. The defender heard the dull bang clearly, but thought it was a firecracker; similar to the type lit every week by ultras around Europe. Evra's reaction was hard to gauge but he passed the ball on to a teammate and the game continued in an increasingly surreal atmosphere as news of the Paris atrocities began to spread among the crowd. The managers of France and Germany, Didier Deschamps and Joachim Low, were also made aware of the developing situation, but the players themselves did not know of the unfolding tragedy until after the match had ended. In a show of solidarity and camaraderie, the French team then stayed for much of the night in the stadium dressing rooms with their German peers, who decided for safety reasons not to go to their hotel. Among them was Evra, 34, who has always been a proponent of the group being more powerful than the individual. The most experienced outfield France player in terms of age and appearances, he is respected by all of his compatriots in the national team, especially youngsters such as Paul Pogba, who knew the left-back from their days together at Manchester United. Evra is still a first choice for Euro 2016 hosts France and his career did not dip when he left United in the summer of 2014. In fact, it improved as Juventus won Serie A, the Italian Cup and reached the Champions League final -- the fifth of Evra's career. His old club finished fourth in the Premier League and won nothing. He quickly became a key player in Massimiliano Allegri's side, someone the young players looked up to and the senior players respected. He rarely spoke to the media, but was vocal inside the dressing room, always pushing for improvement and telling players that they could achieve anything if they set their minds to it. Evra's confidence is absolute; he had no doubts that Juventus would triumph against Real Madrid in the Champions League semifinal, for example. It is that attitude which has helped make him such a success of his career. Despite being told several times as a teenager that he would not make it as a footballer, Evra has gone on to be highly decorated at the highest level, with six league titles and a European Cup win. He has also always been able to adapt and seeing off competition for his place. Juventus bought another left-back before this season, the Brazilian Alex Sandro for whom they paid €26 million to Porto. He is a decade younger than Evra and cost €25 million more than did his veteran teammate. Sandro was expected to become a regular starter but instead has started just three times in Serie A and once in the Champions League. In hindsight, United made a mistake in letting Evra leave, but these things are never clear-cut. His Parisian wife wanted a change from Manchester's leaden skies and, while Evra left Old Trafford with regret, he was happy to return to Italy, the country in which he had been given his first opportunity to be a professional footballer, with Marsala in the late 1990s. His replacement at United was Luke Shaw who, at £30m, was the most expensive teenager in football until United signed Antony Martial a year later. Shaw struggled in his first season in Manchester and admits he wasn't as professional as he should have been, nor as fit as he could have been. Shaw righted those wrongs from the very first game of the 2015-16 preseason and took his good form into the Premier League campaign. The Londoner was set to play 50 games this term until he suffered a horrific leg break at PSV Eindhoven in September. United want two top players for every position and, as such, Evra would have been a perfect back-up for the injured Shaw, though in the Frenchman's mind he would never have accepted that term. Had Evra stayed, it would have led to a competition for the left-back slot between the most promising English defender of his generation and one of the best full-backs in Europe over the last decade. But he did not and so ended his career in a city where he was loved by players and fans alike. Evra himself had become obsessed about the club for which he played, having asked early on for the club history in French. For Sir Alex Ferguson, who signed Evra from Monaco in January 2006, he was one of the best buys he made as United manager. "With full-backs it's like searching for a rare bird," wrote Ferguson in his second autobiography. "When we first saw Evra, he was playing as a wing-back but he had the speed and was young enough to switch to a full-back in our system. We knew plenty of his attacking capabilities. He was quick, had superb technique and strong personality. Very strong." After a disastrous debut in the Manchester derby, that personality would win Evra respect in the ultra-driven environment of United's dressing room. He made friends quickly and helped players feel part of the club. For example, Park Ji-Sung could not speak English when he joined in July 2005 but the two became close. Similarly Nani, who arrived 18 months after Evra, became a friend. Evra went on to play 379 times for United, more than Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Nemanja Vidic, Cristiano Ronaldo or Dennis Viollet. Speaking to him on Oct. 28 following Juventus' defeat at Sassuolo -- only the second game this season for which Evra had been eligible but not selected -- he admitted "I miss Manchester, I really do." As raindrops landed on the beautifully cut Trussardi suit which the Juventus players wear (Pogba pushed the trousers of his into socks pulled up to his knees), Evra also said he wants to go on playing until he's 40 -- "like [Ryan] Giggs". Just as he has all his life, Evra will use any doubts people might have about that as a motivating factor to prove them wrong. Three days later, he started in Juve's derby victory vs. Torino. A week after that, he scored in a win at Empoli. Next for Evra is an emotional occasion at Wembley. He played there several times for United, including in the 2011 Champions League final. He was a loser that night, but his sadness was tempered because his close friend Eric Abidal, who had recently been diagnosed with cancer, was a winner with Barcelona. As Abidal lifted the trophy, he saw Evra smiling. Life can be awful, but there are always diamonds which shine through the darkness.

Trying to find Juventus' best starting XI http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/11/16/9739636/trying-to-find-juventus-best-starting-11-max-allegri-team-mangement-2015-serie-a Nov 16, 2015 This year we've seen countless team sheets announced, to general consternation/anger/disappointment from our ever-fickle internet fanbase. We've seen Antonio Conte's 3-5-2 switched to the Max Allegri 4-3-3/3-5-2 hybrid, a dash of 4-3-1-2, all to varying levels of success. But what's this team's best lineup? Here's what we know for sure: It's gotta have Claudio Marchisio. It's probably gotta have Sami Khedira. The rest of the questions are not so easily answered. Is the real Hernanes somewhere inside that listless husk of a Brazilian? Which Mario Mandžukić will show up? Can Paulo Dybala and Juan Cuadrado co-exist? SHOULD WE LEAVE ALVARO MORATA BY HIS LONELY SELF ON THE LEFT? This year's Juventus is deeper than any one in recent memory. We have enough quality squad members to field 2-3 different teams in a variety of tactical formations and with a number of different approaches. Unfortunately, with the injuries this team's suffered throughout this season, we've had to see all too many of them. Let's state the obvious here: We miss Arturo Vidal, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez. Show me a team in the world that wouldn't feel the pain of their absence and I'll show you a team you just made up, liar. Tarek Khatib @ADP1113 Morata on 10 changes "It's difficult to absorb all the new features straight-away & it isn't normal for a CL finalist to change 10 players." Tarek Khatib @ADP1113 Morata on Vidal Pirlo & Tevez leaving "Don't forget Giovinco & Llorente: there were 10 changes, I'd like to see anyone in our situation." There has been a TON of turnover this season. And it hasn't been pretty by any means. Just as if it looked as if Juventus had turned a corner, one Nicola Sansone (you little bastard!!!!) free kick and a Giorgio Chiellini red card (you dumb bastard!!!!) changed the whole perception. But it really does seem to be coming together. The Torino win was a major rallying point for this team, although the Gladbach draw certainly was a bit of a downer following the emotion of Cuadrado's last-gasp winner. All the freshly applied bandages to this season's early wounds flew off in unison when Massimo Maccarone put Empoli ahead 1-0, but thankfully Mandžukić and Patrice Evra quickly allayed those fears. However, as our walking wounded slowly return to the fold, we have 21 players fully capable of starting (and Simone Padoin). So what's our best XI? Obviously our lineup will change throughout the season with form, fitness and tactics, but what side puts us in the best position to win in Serie A? Let's start with the easiest part of this task: Superman Gigi Buffon. He's been brilliant this year in rescuing our sorry hides from some — even more — embarrassing results. Here's where it gets complicated. Andrea Barzagli has been brilliant both as an out-and-out center-back and in the center back-cum-right back (don't you dare) role Allegri has asked him to play. However, playing Barzagli wide leaves out the Swiss Express. That's not an option for me, so Stephan Lichtsteiner gets the start at right back with the Wall in the center. But with whom do we partner him? Ever the warrior, Chiellini, is a brilliant defender whose leadership is always important, but his chaotic style and rash challenges have become more and more costly in recent years, so I'd opt for Leonardo Bonucci. While he still has some adjusting to do in a center-back pairing, his range of passing and calm play out of the back helps set the tone for the team. As much as I agitated for Alex Sandro's signing, at present, Uncle Pat Evra's leadership and experience is too valuable to leave him off the pitch in big games. Sandro has plenty of time to grow into his role at Juve, and his energy and quality off the bench is especially useful. My midfield three of regista Marchisio, (hopefully healthy) box-to-box midfielder Khedira and phenomenon Paul Labile Pogba picks itself. They've not had many chances to play together, but the combined skillset of these three is far and away our best option at present. While Roberto Pereyra, Hernanes, Kwadwo Asamoah, Mario Lemina and Stefano Sturaro (my God, they have so many damn midfielders!!) are all more than capable, I don't think there's much question about that trio. Now, bear with me for a moment. Imagine an attacking trident with Álvaro Morata at its head; Juan Guillermo Cuadrado wreaks havoc on the right, while Paulo Dybala flits and floats across the pitch, creating where he will. Álvarito drifts to the left to drag hapless center backs out of space, while Paulo Dybala appears out of the mist to find the ball in a previously nonexistent pocket. It sounds good, doesn't it? My firm belief is that unleashing Cuadrado and Dybala simultaneously is the key to Juventus' success. With one or the other on the field, the burden of playmaking is too much, and unbalances the team. Cuadrado's presence takes some of the pressure off Dybala's shoulders, while Dybala's craft and guile frees space for Cuadrado to be his electrifyingly dangerous best self. It's time to give it to our opponents with both barrels. This Juventus team has a ton of growth ahead of it, and enough time to grow something special. For all of Juve's haplessness this season, they're still only NINE points off the Serie A title pace. With Milan up next and Manchester City looming a few days after, now is the time to lay down a marker and really kickstart this season.

Khedira: ‘Juventus a great club’ http://www.football-italia.net/75843/khedira-%E2%80%98juventus-great-club%E2%80%99? Nov 16, 2015 Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira says football is “a religion” in Italy, and discusses the German national team. The World Cup-winner joined the Bianconeri on a free transfer this summer after leaving Real Madrid, and discussed his life in Turin. “In Italy they live for football, it’s a religion,” Khedira told Kicker in his homeland. “I’m very happy to be at Juventus, Juventus is a great club and as soon as the chance [to come here] presented itself I couldn’t pass it up.” Khedira has won 57 caps for Germany, and discussed the aims and ambitions for the national team. “We’re preparing for the European Championships, and we can’t forget our value. We’re aware of our strengths, and we’ve shown that in the past. “I don’t agree with some of those who chose to leave after the World Cup, we experienced players have to help the younger ones and the newcomers into the national team. “We have to let them integrate calmly, so they feel at ease on and off the pitch.”

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Marotta: ‘Allegri criticism excessive’ http://www.football-italia.net/75835/marotta-‘allegri-criticism-excessive’? Nov 16, 2015 Juventus director Giuseppe Marotta says criticisms of Coach Massimiliano Allegri ‘are excessive’. The Bianconeri boss has come under fire after a poor start to the season, with the club nine points off the Scudetto pace after 12 rounds. However, he has been supported by the club’s director general, who also believes that the dressing room debate at the club is a ‘good thing.’ “We’re still in an open-ended phase, we know that we are going through a difficult time,” he told Tuttomercatoweb. “Allegri has understood that very well. The criticisms against him are excessive, let’s’ not forget that he came at a difficult time, taking over an important inheritance, and won the Scudetto, the Coppa Italia and reached the Champions League final. “It’ll be a very important match against Milan because there’s two points between us and at this moment we must target maximum points in every match that we play. “Of course, it could be an important test in terms of the performance that our team must deliver. “This is a difficult year, the job of the club is to support him in the best way. We are doing that and we hope to come out from these difficulties. “The internal debate is a good thing, I don’t think only the youngsters are in the dock. “Everyone must respond with a greater commitment. It doesn’t mean this is a divided group. Buffon’s considerations are all positive and sensible.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Del Piero: 'Juve in title race' http://www.football-italia.net/75818/del-piero-juve-title-race? Nov 15, 2015 Alessandro Del Piero is confident “Juventus can get back into the Scudetto race”. The Bianconeri legend spoke to La Domenica Sportiva about the Turin giants, who are currently seventh in Serie A. “This up and down rollercoaster of emotions all depends on the results. It’s true for Maurizio Sarri at Napoli, Max Allegri at Juventus and many other Coaches. “Juve remain a very strong side, as proved by the fact they are doing decidedly well in the Champions League. They’re less effective this season in Serie A and people act as if it’s a tragic situation. “They have the potential to get back into the Scudetto race with three or four consecutive victories. Allegri proved last season he is an excellent Coach, but players and tacticians can’t necessarily be at their peak at every moment of the campaign.” http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

'Italy lack alternatives in defence' http://www.football-italia.net/75809/italy-lack-alternatives-defence? Nov 15, 2015 Ciro Ferrara and Daniele Adani believe Italy’s problems are focused on Juventus defenders, “but there are no alternatives.” The Azzurri were beaten 3-1 by Belgium on Friday and host Romania in another friendly on Tuesday night. “Tactically, technically and in terms of character, the defenders used by Antonio Conte are the most talented and reliable,” ex-Juventus centre-back Ferrara told the Corriere della Sera newspaper. “It can happen that at this moment in time some of them aren’t in peak condition, but I don’t see anyone able to take their place.” Adani agrees with Ferrara on the lack of suitable alternatives while Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini are off form. “The truth is, sometimes, they get distracted. After winning and playing so much over the last few years, a dip in intensity levels is normal. “Chiellini, for example, in the last year has too often lost his marker, given away easy corners and made the wrong choices. “There are no credible alternatives back there. Daniele Rugani never plays at Juve, Alessio Romagnoli struggled to settle in at Milan and Andrea Ranocchia isn’t first choice at Inter. “We have to go to Euro 2016 with these defenders.”

JUVENTUS - MILAN - MATCHDAY 13 Saturday, November 21st, 2015 - 8:45 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Juventus-Milan is like El Clasico, says Morata The 23-year-old is eyeing the Rossoneri's scalp in order to help his side climb the table, and insists he is not seeking a move back to Real Madrid. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/3276/serie-a/2015/11/15/17347312/-? Nov 15, 2015 Juventus striker Alvaro Morata has compared their upcoming clash against AC Milan to Spain's El Clasico, talking up the significance of next Saturday's showdown. The former Real Madrid striker moved to Turin in 2014, fast becoming a fan favourite at the club after helping them to a Scudetto and Coppa Italia double last season. Juventus have struggled this season, sitting seventh and two points behind the Rossoneri in Serie A, but Morata stated a result against their rivals could be key to getting his side's fortunes this season back on track. "Juventus-Milan is like a final considering our position in the table right now," the Spain international told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "It is our Clasico, for the history that goes with this fixture. “It’s a huge game where recent form perhaps counts for little, but both teams will go full throttle. "We’re back to being Juventus, rediscovering that hunger to win and creating fear in our opponents. The objective is to get as many points as possible before Christmas and progress in the Champions League. "We are not actually that far off the top of the table. In another league nine points [behind leaders Inter] might be a bigger hurdle to overcome, but in Serie A everyone can lose to everyone else, so I am sure we’ll get back on top." http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

'Only a matter of time before Pogba joins Barcelona' Fifa agent Ernesto Bronzetti expects Luis Enrique's men to eventually land the midfielder and believes there is a high possibility Alvaro Morata will return to Real Madrid. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2015/11/14/17336002/-? Nov 14, 2015 Juventus will eventually lose Paul Pogba to Barcelona, according to Fifa agent Ernesto Bronzetti. The 22-year-old mainstay in the Bianconeri midfield was targeted by a host of Europe's wealthiest sides over the summer, with Barcelona amongst the forerunners for his signature. Pogba ultimately spurned the advances of the treble winners, but Bronzetti believes it is only a matter of time before the sought-after France international turns out in their colours. "I know that Barcelona are after him [Pogba]," he told Tuttosport. "It's likely he'll end up there sooner or later. “We'll have to see whether Juventus decide to sell him. In any case, Barca are not the only Spanish club looking for him.” Bronzetti also stated the Serie A champions could be set to lose Alvaro Morata to Real Madrid, with the capital club retaining an option to re-sign their academy product for €30 million at the end of this season. "As far as I know Real's intention is of taking him back,” he continued. “But we'll have to see what Morata himself says. "You don't go to Real with reluctance. They certainly aren't the type of club that will keep those who don't want to stay with them. "Real are changing their policies and they are putting a lot more emphasis on the players from their youth squads. For them, someone like Morata may be interesting too.” The striker moved to Turin for €20m in the summer of 2014, with his goals proving crucial to Massimiliano Allegri's men winning a league and cup double last term.

Marchisio Moved By Heysel Commemoration http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/11/marchisio-moved-by-heysel-commemoration/? Nov 14, 2015 Italy and Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio was moved by the commemoration for the 30th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium disaster during an international friendly with Belgium. On a night when football was overshadowed by tragic events in Paris, the Azzurri took the lead thanks to Antonio Candreva’s goal just three minutes from kickoff, the Azzurri went into the half level with FIFA’s top-ranked team, before conceding two more goals in a difficult second half. Despite being disappointed with the defeat, Marchisio told Rai Sport following the match that it was the 39th minute that stood out for him. “We came here to mark the 30th anniversary of Heysel and it was a very moving tribute for an event we must never forget,” said the 29-year old. “Halting play for a moment at the 39th minute was the right thing to do, the crowd seemed to really appreciate it.” Marchisio, who returned to the national team following a previous injury, then discussed the match, and insisted that despite the score, there were many positive takeaways for Antonio Conte’s squad. “Belgium are among the best, and are one of the favourites for the European Championship next year,” he said. “We knew this would be a difficult challenge. “Looking at the score, it looks worst than it was. “The truth is, it was a fairly even game and we created several chances, forcing their keeper [simon Mignolet] to make some excellent saves.” The Juve midfielder admitted that he was more satisfied with the Azzurri’s first half performance than their second, when the team made too many individual errors. “We delivered a good game in the first half. “Unfortunately we fell in the second half. “The conceded goals were the results of individual mistakes, which we have to work to correct. “Friendly or not, it’s never nice to lose, but we knew this would be a challenge.”

Cuadrado to Juventus in January? http://www.football-italia.net/75767/cuadrado-juventus-january? Nov 14, 2015 Juventus could sign Juan Cuadrado outright from Chelsea as soon as January, reports suggest. The Colombian winger joined the Bianconeri on a free loan this summer, scoring once and providing three assists in his 10 Serie A appearances thusfar. According to La Stampa, Juve general manager Giuseppe Marotta is working to bring the 27-year-old on a permanent basis as soon as January. The newspaper believes that a fee of around €20m will be enough to sign Cuadrado outright, which would represent a loss of around €13m for Chelsea.

Barcelona Transfer News: Paul Pogba Move 'Likely' http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2589280-barcelona-transfer-news-paul-pogba-move-likely-latest-blaugrana-rumours? Nov 14, 2015 FIFA agent Ernesto Bronzetti believes Paul Pogba will leave Juventus in the near future and that Barcelona is a likely destination for the prized France international. Bronzetti discussed the futures of the midfielder and Juve striker Alvaro Morata with Tuttosport (h/t Football Italia), declaring Pogba could join the Blaugrana if the Old Lady sanction the move: "As for Pogba, I know that Barcelona are after him. It's likely he'll end up there sooner or later. We'll have to see whether Juventus decide to sell him. In any case Barca are not the only Spanish club looking for him." The former Manchester United player's huge reputation suggests the other Spanish club interested is Real Madrid, as La Liga's two superpowers are likely the only teams who could afford him. Real Madrid Castilla coach Zinedine Zidane revealed Real's initial interest in the summer, commenting about Pogba to radio station RTL (h/t Alec Fenn of Goal): He has everything. I think that he’s fantastic. What I like about him is that he has it all. He is a complete player who also has the ability to score goals because he likes to get forward. In terms of footballing qualities, he is extraordinary. A lot of clubs are interested in him and so are Real. It is natural that talented players are of interest to all the big clubs. Pogba has been given the reins to Juventus' midfield after the summer exits of Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal, but the early exchanges of the campaign haven't been good for the Serie A champions. The side lies seventh, nine points from the summit, having already lost four times this season. If Pogba cannot lead the Juve midfield, a sale would generate a huge amount of cash for the Italians, and they could continue the rebuilding process they have been forced into since their Champions League final appearance in June. As Barca consider the virtues of adding Pogba to their core, veteran midfielder Sergio Busquets has said he wants to stay at the Camp Nou for the foreseeable future despite being "attracted" by a switch to English football. The player told Luis Arnaiz for the Royal's Spanish Football Federation's monthly publication (h/t Jordi Gil of Sport) the atmosphere of the Premier League is appealing but that his heart remains in Catalonia: “I don’t deny that the Premier League and its atmosphere attracts me, but it’s never crossed my mind to change to another club. I feel loved and valued at Barcelona.” Busquets suffered a knock playing for Spain against England on Friday night, as the home side ran out 2-0 winners. The midfielder asked to be replaced after identifying a thigh issue, and departed in the second half, as confirmed by Cataluyna Radio (h/t Sport). On the Barca No. 5's prospective midfield team-mate, football writer Graham Ruthven told Bleacher Report why he believes Pogba should be Barcelona's next big signing as the team evolves toward playing a more dynamic style. Barcelona have maintained their place at the top of La Liga despite the recent injury to Lionel Messi, but it appears they are in a transitional period as their performances this term have failed to match last season's levels. Pogba would bring a new dimension to Barca's midfield, not only adding physical power but providing a talent who could also play the team's traditional style. Alongside Busquets, the 22-year-old would have the protection to play his forward-thinking game, and the Spaniard would offer Pogba the experienced partner he needs to control the middle of the park. The Frenchman is good enough to play for any club side in the world, but if manager Luis Enrique harbours any ambition to capture the player, the price tag could break the existing record of £85.3 million that took Gareth Bale to Real Madrid in 2013.

Juventus' future depends on matching Europe's financial elite http://www.espnfc.co.uk/club/juventus/111/blog/post/2712544/juventus-must-match-europes-financial-elite? Nov 14, 2015 Patrice Evra confirmed in an interview this week that, despite his age, Juventus continue to teach, develop and nurture him, even managing to save his life (it was at the club where the defender learned he was allergic to eggs, a dish he often indulged in while at Manchester United.) A club renowned for its discipline and professionalism, there's little that the finest players in the world would not learn in Turin, Italy. The art of tactics, the importance of patterns, of versatility and discipline, even 34-year-old stars who have plied their trade at the top level never stop learning. Indeed, Evra told Canal Plus: "I have learned a lot about football -- how to be more professional, even if I was professional in Manchester." At Juventus, players are always developing, whether mentally while under the tutelage of Antonio Conte, or tactically through the words of manager Massimiliano Allegri. And words like those uttered by Evra leave many Juve fans with hope that the club will bounce back to reclaim their place at the top of Serie A after a disappointing start to the season. Yet while the players have not matched up at times this season and Allegri has tinkered far too often, it's difficult to continue reprimanding the squad when, at the very highest level, there has been little sign of development. It was only recently that the Turin giants announced a €16.8 million profit for the first quarter of 2014-15. Yet if you study the balance sheets, it is obvious that they are still overly-dependent on the revenue generated through TV deals. On a commercial level, Juve lag far behind the top clubs, a huge distance off the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United. The Old Lady make approximately €85m in commercial revenue; PSG make close to €328m; while the likes of Bayern Munich make €105.2m alone from merchandising -- a figure any Italian club would only dream of producing. It was thought that Andrea Agnelli's management team, with his presence at the helm, were improving matters and they did make a small difference, at least on a small scale. Francesco Calvo, the Bianconeri's commercial director, did good work in securing better sponsorship deals while ensuring the club itself managed merchandising and licensing. Indeed, such was the belief in his ideas that 42 people were hired to help him grow the brand. Yet Calvo has now departed, starting a new adventure with Barcelona. Juve have suffered as a result. Considering the wealth of talent they have on the pitch, there is hope the club will recover their form in spite of the PR problems suffered by the senior management. Yet it remains imperative that Calvo's departure is not allowed to hinder the club's exploitation of commercial potential and new sources of revenue are sought to ensure they don't remain dependent on TV money. Inter were largely criticised for their inability to capitalise on the success achieved under Jose Mourinho, including their Treble winning season of 2010. As Gabriele Marcotti wrote: "Between 2006 and 2010, five years in which the club won everything in sight, commercial income rose from $63.5m to $65.4m. Across town, AC Milan, with a comparable fan base but with considerably worse results on the pitch, saw their commercial income go up from $91.9m to $122.7m." While Milan are still the best example of an Italian club that understands how to market a brand, the good news is that by the end of June 2017, the Juventus Village will be ready. Four thousand square metres across six sites, JVillage will include new training facilities, the club's head office, a hotel and a concept store amongst other things -- a project in which the club has already invested €100m and is expected to help bring Juventus in line with football's major players in terms of revenue. If the Bianconeri want to remain at the forefront of the Italian game then they must maintain their professional course, ridding themselves of the issues that have dampened their hopes for more trophies and commercial growth. Juventus may never have been as marketable as Manchester United, but the Old Lady's future depends on how well the club adapt to their new direction.