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Alex Sandro: ‘Happy in back-three’ http://www.football-italia.net/71342/alex-sandro-%E2%80%98happy-back-three%E2%80%99? Aug 20, 2015 New Juventus signing Alex Sandro assures he’s ‘comfortable’ in both a back-three and a back-four. The Bianconeri alternated between 3-5-2 and 4-3-1-2 last season, and the €26m signing believes he has the versatility to fit into either system. “I’m used to playing in both a back-three and a back-four,” Sandro told Juventus’ official website. “Obviously in a three-man defence the left-sided defender has to push harder to join the attacks, but as I say, I can play in either a three-man or a four-man backline.” The Brazilian international also looked to endear himself to his new fans, revealing he supported the club in last season’s Champions League. “I think the club had a fantastic season last year. I mean that, I’m not just saying it because I’m a Juventus player now. “After Porto were eliminated from the Champions League I was cheering for Juve all the way, and I hope this season can be even better. “I’m feeling very positive, I’m happy and confident. “I can’t wait to be able to start training and playing and to continue making my dream come true. “The fans can rest assured that they have a player who will always give 100 per cent to secure victories and success for the club.”

Juve: 'Five-year deal for Alex Sandro' http://www.football-italia.net/71339/juve-five-year-deal-alex-sandro? Aug 20, 2015 Juventus have also confirmed the signing of Porto’s Alex Sandro, with the full-back signing a five-year contract. The Portuguese side confirmed this afternoon that they had sold the Brazilian international to the Bianconeri for a fee of €26m, and the Turin giants have now relased the details of the transfer. A statement on the club’s official website confirms the €26m fee, but reveals the sum is “payable in three financial years.” The statement also confirms that Alex Sandro has signed a five-year contract with the Old Lady, tying him to the club until 2020.

Alex Sandro signs for Juventus after Porto agree €26 million fee http://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/2572478/alex-sandro-signs-at-juventus-after-porto-agree-26m-euro-fee? Aug 20, 2015 Brazil international Alex Sandro signed a five-year contract with Juventus on Thursday after the Serie A side agreed a €26 million transfer with Porto. The signing became official after Sandro passed his medical in Turin, with the Portuguese club confirming the transfer fee. OFFICIAL: Alex Sandro completes a switch from Porto, penning a five-year contract The 24-year-old will be Juventus' preferred option at left-back in the future, though he will compete with Patrice Evra for the starting spot at the San Siro this season. "I'm feeling very positive, I'm happy and confident,'' Sandro said. "I can't wait to be able to start training and playing and to continue making my dream come true. "The fans can rest assured that they have a player who will always give 100 percent to secure victories and success for the club." Under Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus alternated between 3-5-2 and 4-3-1-2 last season and Alex Sandro is confident he can fit into either system. "I'm used to playing in both a back three and a back four," he said. "Obviously in a three-man defense the left-sided defender has to push harder to join the attacks, but as I say I can play in either a three-man or a four-man back line." Sandro joined Porto in 2011, but had rejected offers this summer to extend his contract, which was set to expire after this season. He scored three goals in 137 appearances. He has made six career appearances for Brazil, but none since 2012.

Official: Juventus sign Alex Sandro http://www.football-italia.net/71337/official-juventus-sign-alex-sandro? Aug 20, 2015 Juventus have signed Alex Sandro from Porto for a €26m fee, the Portuguese side have confirmed. The full-back passed his Bianconeri medical earlier today, having arrived in Italy last night to complete the transfer. “Porto and Juventus have reached an agreement for the sale of Alex Sandro to the Italian club on a permanent basis for €26m,” Porto confirmed on their official website. “The 24-year-old left-back joined the Dragoes in 2011 and has been capped six times by Brazil.” Alex Sandro is the latest recruit for the Old Lady this summer, with Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Sami Khedira among those joining the club.

OFFICIAL: Porto confirm Alex Sandro has signed for Juventus The left-back has already undergone a medical in Turin and has completed his move to the Serie A champions for €26 million. http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4682/transfer-zone/2015/08/20/14604532/-? Aug 20, 2015 Porto have announced that Alex Sandro has signed for Juventus. The 24-year-old left-back will join the Serie A champions after the two sides reached an agreement over a €26 million transfer fee. The Brazilian had undertaken a medical on Thursday morning after Giuseppe Marotta had confirmed that a deal was close. Juventus see Sandro as the ideal addition to the squad to challenge Patrice Evra for a starting place as the Frenchman enters the twilight of his career. The defender started his professional path with Atletico Paranaense and also turned out for Santos before moving to Portugal in 2011. He had since developed into a key player for the Portuguese giants, but a transfer became inevitable after he refused to sign an extension to his contract which was set to expire next year.

JUVENTUS - UDINESE - Sunday, August 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Juventus aim to equal history A fifth consecutive Scudetto would see Juventus equal the record of some of calcio’s greatest ever teams. Luca Cetta explains why they can do it. http://www.football-italia.net/71335/juventus-aim-equal-history? Aug 20, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri can complete a journey this season which commenced under predecessor Antonio Conte. When the former captain left Juventus in July 2014, he did so believing he had achieved all he could at Vinovo. Allegri arrived to continue down the path of success. Conte’s three consecutive Scudetti represented an impressive achievement. It was something he and the club were eyeing from the moment the second championship was secured. President Andrea Agnelli called the three-peat a “new great motivation”. In doing so, the Lecce native led the Old Lady to a first hat-trick since 1933. Of all the great Juventus sides in the intermediary years – those of the ‘Magical Trio’, or the ones led by Giovanni Trapattoni and Marcello Lippi – none could reel in a third consecutive crown. Conte did. And after Allegri added the fourth, Juve are now chasing an 80-year-old club record. Only three teams in calcio history have achieved the quintet. Juve’s 1930s vintage were the first. Il Grande Torino roused post-World War II Italy with their breathtaking football, before tragedy struck. Most recently Inter took out five on the trot, although the first Scudetto was controversially awarded in the post-Calciopoli shake-up. The team dubbed the Quinquennio d’oro laid the foundation for Juventus as we know it today. Less than a decade after coming under Agnelli ownership – Edoardo purchased the club in 1923 – the team became the first superpower of the newly united national league. At their peak, Carlo Carcano’s team won the 1933 championship by eight points. A year later Bianconeri players formed the basis of Vittorio Pozzo’s World Cup winning squad. The Azzurri were referred to as ‘Nazio-Juve’ as nine squad members enjoyed international success. The untimely death of Edoardo Agnelli shortly after the fifth Scudetto was claimed in 1935 signalled the end of an era. Eighty years later, the Bianconeri can emulate that golden team. Allegri has already declared Scudetto No 5 the main ambition this term, although there are doubts surrounding the Turin club. Those pertain to the three big-name departures – Andrea Pirlo, Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal. Not that Juventus were left reeling. Signing Sami Khedira and Mario Mandzukic ensures short-term gain, while the additions of Paulo Dybala, Daniele Rugani and Simone Zaza point to long-term planning. The evolution of the squad means they remain a strong unit. “Others have arrived with different characteristics,” Gianluigi Buffon stated on Wednesday, “but I feel with the same quality, plus they are younger.” There could well be further signings before the transfer window is shut, with defender Alex Sandro undergoing his medical earlier today and a midfielder potentially on the way. That was confirmed by director general Giuseppe Marotta on Wednesday. No doubt there’s a new feel about Juventus, but the spine of the team is intact. That’s the spine which has led them to domination. The Bianconeri have preserved their menacing edge. Despite losing the regularity of Tevez’s goals, the attacking firepower is impressive and depth strong. Juventus claimed the first trophy of the season after triumphing over Lazio in the Italian Super Cup, but the suggestion is this will be the closest fought championship since the Old Lady returned to the top of the mountain in 2012. Roma and Inter are expected to be Juve’s closest challengers. Then there’s Napoli, Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina to consider – all of whom will be seeking European places. The field has considerably strengthened. But as with Juventus, these clubs have undergone summer reshuffles. The Giallorossi and Milan pair welcome a multitude of new faces, with the Rossoneri plus Napoli and Fiorentina also led by new tacticians. The likes of new Roma striker Edin Dzeko and Inter’s midfield pitbull Geoffrey Kondogbia represent significant purchases, but these clubs have to reduce a gap which has stood at 17 points in each of the last two seasons. Allegri thinks it will be close: “There are many rivals and I think this term it will take fewer points to secure top spot.” Juve’s 1930s counterparts won three of their first four Scudetti by a margin of four points – in the days of two per win – but were pushed to a closer two-point triumph in 1935. History may well repeat as this campaign is set to be more keenly contested than in previous seasons, but Juventus are still the team to beat. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Marotta: ‘Juve, injuries no excuse’ http://www.football-italia.net/71327/marotta-%E2%80%98juve-injuries-no-excuse%E2%80%99? Aug 20, 2015 Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta says that injuries will be ‘no excuse’ if the team aren’t competitive next season. Speaking to Tuttosport, the 58-year-old admitted that teams around the Old Lady had strengthened, but denied any jealousy. "Our competitors have invested but I have nothing to envy, we are focused on our squad,” he said. “Juventus has to be a competitive team - there must be no excuses, not even about injuries."

JUVENTUS - UDINESE - Sunday, August 23rd, 2015 - 6:00 PM Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee:‬ Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni Week 1 referees announced http://www.football-italia.net/71326/week-1-referees-announced? Aug 20, 2015 The referees have been announced for Week 1 of Serie A, with Paolo Mazzoleni in charge of Juventus-Udinese. The new season officially gets underway this weekend, with Roma’s trip to Verona on Saturday the first match of the new campaign. Marco Guida will run the rule over that match, with Gianluca Rocchi taking charge of newly-promoted Bologna’s trip to Lazio later that evening. Champions Juventus are in action Sunday evening, with Paolo Mazzoleni taking charge of the match at Juventus Stadium. This will be the 15th time Mazzoleni has refereed the Bianconeri, with the last being a 3-1 win over Cagliari in December 2014. Week 1 referees: Empoli-Chievo - Emanuele Mariani Fiorentina-Milan - Paolo Valeri Frosinone-Torino - Luca Banti Verona-Roma - Marco Guida Inter-Atalanta - Gianpaolo Calvarese Juventus-Udinese - Paolo Mazzoleni Lazio-Bologna - Gianluca Rocchi Sampdoria-Carpi - Michael Fabbri Sassuolo-Napoli - Daniele Doveri http://www.goal.com/en-gb/tables/serie-a/13?ICID=SP_TN_127

Sandro Passes Juventus Medical http://www.football-italia.net/71324/sandro-passes-juventus-medical? Aug 20, 2015 Alex Sandro is one step away from being a Juventus player, having passed his medical. The Porto full-back arrived in Turin last night, and underwent medical tests today ahead of a proposed €25m transfer. “Alex Sandro has completed his medical,” the Bianconeri announced on their official website. “The 24-year-old full-back has passed the tests at Clinica Fornaca and then at the Istituto di Medicina dello Sport in Turin.” The Brazilian international will now sign his contract with the Old Lady, believed to be a five-year deal worth €2.5m per season.

Llorente to Sevilla today? http://www.football-italia.net/71322/llorente-sevilla-today? Aug 20, 2015 Spanish reports suggest Fernando Llorente could complete his move from Juventus to Sevilla today. Diario de Sevilla writes that a deal is likely to be completed today, barring any last-minute hitches in negotiations between the clubs. However, the two clubs are believed to have agreed a deal in which the striker heads to Andalucia on loan, with the La Liga outfit paying the entirety of his €4.5m per season salary. The Bianconeri are believed to prefer an outright sale to a loan, but the absence of such an offer will reportedly encourage director general Giuseppe Marotta to agree to a loan.

Lopetegui: ‘Don’t enjoy losing Sandro’ http://www.football-italia.net/71320/lopetegui-%E2%80%98don%E2%80%99t-enjoy-losing-sandro%E2%80%99? Aug 20, 2015 Porto Coach Julen Lopetegui says new Juventus signing Alex Sandro will be missed, but remains coy on interest in Inter target Guilherme Siqueira. Brazilian left-back Alex Sandro is completing his Juventus medical today before securing a reported €20m switch. The Portuguese side are one of several teams, including Inter, to be linked with Atletico Madrid’s Guilherme Siqueira, who had previously come close to a move to the Old Lady. “As a Coach I don’t enjoy losing a player like Alex Sandro, but my job is to find alternative solutions,” said Lopetegui at today’s pre-match Press conference. “I have to look forward and not backward to build a good team that can win titles. “Siqueira? I don’t want to talk about him. I don’t speak about players who aren’t part of my team.”

Juventus Striker Could Miss Serie A Opener http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/juventus-striker-could-miss-serie-a-opener/? Aug 20, 2015 Juventus striker Mario Mandzukic could miss the Bianconeri’s opening Serie A game of the season with a knee injury. The Croatian has been brought to Turin to help replace the goals lost through the departure of Carlos Tevez who has returned to Argentina with Boca Juniors. According to Tuttosport, Mandzukic will have his knee assessed to determine the seriousness of it and whether he can play against Udinese on Sunday. If the 29 year-old is unable to feature this weekend against the Zebrette, it’s thought coach Massimiliano Allegri will play Paulo Dybala alongside Spanish forward Fernando Llorente. Mandzukic moved to Bianconeri from La Liga side Atletico Madrid, despite only joining the Rojiblancos last summer. The former Bayern Munich man scored 12 goals in 28 La Liga appearances for Atleti last season.

5 Key Games for Juventus in the 1st Half of 2015-16 Serie A Season http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2550192-5-key-games-for-juventus-in-the-first-half-of-2015-16-serie-a-season? Aug 20, 2015 Serie A swings back into action this weekend, and the prospect of a fifth straight title for Juventus is a very real one. Last season's beaten Champions League finalists might have lost the likes of Carlos Tevez, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal over the summer, but in Paulo Dybala, Sami Khedira, Mario Mandzukic and others they've made some pretty exciting additions. It would be no surprise if the Old Lady were to lead from the front from the start of the new campaign. To do that, though, they'll need a strong start as they navigate their way through the first half of the season, with these key fixtures being hugely important in their attempts to do so. All dates subject to change due to television times or European commitments Roma vs. Juventus, 30 August 2015 Serie A isn't messing around this season, and in just the second week of the campaign we've got a meeting of last season's top two. In the Premier League, last year's runners-up Manchester City overwhelmed reigning champions Chelsea 3-0 when they met last week in a similar arrangement to this one, but Juventus will approach this game knowing that keeping their hosts quiet will be the main aim. Roma might have been the closest challengers to Juve in 2014/15, but they still ended the campaign 17 points behind them. Max Allegri's side will approach this game knowing that a repeat of March's 1-1 draw at the Stadio Olimpico will be a perfectly acceptable result, as they bid to avoid going the same way as Chelsea did. Napoli vs. Juventus, 27 September 2015 Trips to the Stadio San Paolo are never easy, and Juventus have made a habit of proving that in recent years. Juve won 3-1 there last season in one of the more convincing displays of the gap in quality between them and one of the better teams in the division, but that was their first victory at Napoli's home in 10 attempts. This clash promises to be another tough examination so early into the season and hot on the heels of that trip to Rome. The departure of Rafael Benitez has seen Napoli take on a new direction under new boss Maurizio Sarri, who enters the job having had just one season of Serie A experience under his belt with Empoli. This fixture won't decide whether his Napoli tenure stands or falls, but an early win over Juve would certainly give it a great kick-start. Inter vs. Juventus, 18 October 2015 Three of Juve's first four away games of the new campaign are against some of the traditional powers of Italian football, and this trip to the San Siro for the Derby d'Italia will be the last of them. There appears to be a renewed sense of optimism at Inter following the impressive signings of players such as Geoffrey Kondogbia, Miranda, Stevan Jovetic and Martin Montoya. Roberto Mancini will be hoping that this is the campaign that he can steer one of the great names of European football back to the top. Just like the earlier visits to Roma and Napoli, taking a point from this trip really wouldn't represent a bad result for Juve, who will be happy to get these three tricky away fixtures out of the way so early on. Lazio vs. Juventus, 6 December 2015 They may have been seen off 2-0 in the Italian Super Cup match in Shanghai earlier this month thanks to quickfire goals from Mandzukic and Dybala, but that doesn't change the fact that a trip to Lazio is always a difficult one. The Romans perhaps surprised many with their feats last season, but with this fixture falling six games after that difficult early run, Juve will hope to have hit their stride by the time they enter the capital. Stefano Pioli hasn't been too active in the transfer market this summer, but he'll hope that a largely settled squad will be able to handle the demands of European football easily, and that his side don't lose any of the tenacity that saw them impress so many last season. Having said that, it is now 12 years since Lazio beat Juventus in a Serie A match, but that run has to end some time, right? Juventus vs. Fiorentina, 13 December 2015 A week on from that trip to Rome, and just when the group stages of the Champions League come to a close, comes this fixture with a Fiorentina now under the tutelage of former FC Basel boss Paulo Sousa. The Viola's transfer-window headlines have largely centred on who has gone out rather than come in, but Mario Suarez is the standout addition to a squad which did well to finish fourth last season under Vincenzo Montella. Last season, this fixture produced a thrilling 3-2 victory for the hosts at Juventus Stadium in April, extending a seven-match unbeaten home run for the visitors against the team from Florence. They'll have every confidence in making that eight, but are unlikely to have things all their own way.

Alex Sandro undergoes Juventus medical The Serie A champions have announced that the Brazil international has touched down in Turin for physical tests ahead of his proposed transfer. http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4682/transfer-zone/2015/08/20/14592232/-? Aug 20, 2015 Juventus have announced that Porto defender Alex Sandro has landed in Turin to undergo a medical ahead of his proposed move to the Serie A champions. General director Giuseppe Marotta announced on Wednesday that the Turin outfit were close to signing the 24-year-old and they are now on the brink of completing a deal. JuventusFC ✔@juventusfc Visite mediche in corso per Alex Sandro! Juventus were keen to add another left-back to their squad to challenge Patrice Evra for a starting berth and they see Alex Sandro as the ideal long-term replacement for the veteran Frenchman. The Brazilian defender started his professional career with Atletico Paranaense and also wore the jersey of Santos before joining Porto in 2011. He had since developed into a key player for the Portuguese giants, but a transfer became inevitable after he refused to sign an extension to his current contract, which expires next summer. Atletico Madrid also showed an interest in signing Alex Sandro prior to Juve striking a deal. The former Santos star becomes Juventus' seventh signing of the transfer window after the previous arrivals of Mario Mandzukic, Sami Khedira, Paulo Dybala, Simone Zaza, Neto and Guido Vadala.

Juventus face a tough campaign, warns Buffon The veteran goalkeeper believes a number of Serie A's top sides have strengthened impressively so far this summer. http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2015/08/20/14589722/-? Aug 20, 2015 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has warned that a tough season could be on the cards for the reigning Italian champions as he expects Roma, AC Milan and Napoli to be challenging for the Serie A title. The Turin side are the team to beat in 2015-16 as they attempt to win a fifth successive Serie A crown after cantering to the title by 17 points last term. Last season's Champions League finalists have added the likes of Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic, Sami Khedira and Simone Zaza to their squad, yet Buffon believes 2014-15 runners-up Roma will go close again this time around after bringing in the likes of Edin Dzeko, Mohamed Salah and Wojciech Szczesny, while he also refused to rule out Milan and Napoli, who both head into the season with new coaches at the helm. "You can't win indefinitely, even when you are the strongest side. There are teams who have reinforced in Serie A and even begun a whole new era with great enthusiasm," Buffon was quoted as saying by Tuttosport. "We have the utmost respect for the sides that will challenge us for the title. "Looking at the transfer market, Roma are certainly the team who reinforced the most this summer. "Amid the general transformation and the new project under Sinisa Mihajlovic, I also believe Milan will have a very good campaign, especially as they don't have European commitments. "I think if Napoli fans and players are open to learn from Maurizio Sarri, then they too can be a wonderful surprise." Juventus open their campaign at home to Udinese on Saturday.

Chelsea: Cuadrado for Pogba? http://www.football-italia.net/71295/chelsea-cuadrado-pogba? Aug 19, 2015 English sources claim Chelsea offered Juan Cuadrado plus cash for Paul Pogba after Juventus showed interest in the Colombian. The Daily Express and Betfair slashed the odds on Pogba joining Chelsea after the Stamford Bridge side beat Manchester United to Barcelona talent Pedro. Pogba has also been repeatedly linked with Manchester City despite his €100m price-tag. Today’s rumours are that Cuadrado will be included as part of Chelsea’s proposal for the French midfielder. “Cuadrado? Perhaps he could be on the market this summer,” Juventus director Beppe Marotta told Sky Sport Italia today. “The characteristics we are looking for are different, but there are 10 days to cover the gap we’ve got in midfield. We’ll see what happens.” The Bianconeri are interested in ex-Fiorentina winger Cuadrado, but only on loan with non-mandatory option to buy. In the same interview, Marotta also confirmed that there had been offers for Pogba, “but we never entered negotiations with anybody.” The 22-year-old has been given the iconic Number 10 jersey this season, a sign of their faith in his long-term future. “I will play wherever the Coach wants me to. If I can help the team, then I always want to do that,” said Pogba after scoring in a friendly game against the Juve youth team today.

Porto Defender To Have Medical Ahead Of Juventus Switch http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/porto-defender-to-have-medical-ahead-of-juventus-switch/? Aug 19, 2015 Alex Sandro is on the brink of joining Italian champions Juventus from Porto. The Bianconeri are looking for a left back with Patrice Evra the only recognise left sided defender at the club and it now appears Juventus have secured a deal for the Brazilian. As reported by Sky Sport Italia, Sandro is in Turin in order to complete a move. The Porto defender will have a medical before signing a contract with the Italian champions. The 24-year-old impressed last season for the Dragoes making nine appearances in the Champions League. Sandro is already a Brazilian international with six caps to his name and he won an Olympic silver medal during the 2012 games in London. He moved to Europe from Santos in 2011.

Alex Sandro arrives for Juventus http://www.football-italia.net/71294/alex-sandro-arrives-juventus? Aug 19, 2015 Porto left-back Alex Sandro has arrived in Turin and will have his Juventus medical tomorrow ahead of a €20m move. The deal was confirmed by Juve Coach Max Allegri and director Beppe Marotta this afternoon. On Wednesday evening the 24-year-old Brazilian flew in to Turin and was not in training with Porto today. According to Spanish newspaper As, the move will be worth around €20m with added bonuses of up to €5m. His contract with Porto is due to expire in June 2016, so Manchester City were hoping to poach the defender on a free next year. “Alex Sandro arrives and he has great quality and attacking drive,” said Allegri today. “I think we can close things for Alex Sandro in the evening,” Marotta told reporters this afternoon.

Juventus' Alex Sandro signing confirmed by Beppe Marotta http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/8/19/9179029/juventus-porto-alex-sandro-serie-a-transfers-2015 Aug 19, 2015 In just a matter of hours, Juventus will have a new left back. I know this because Beppe Marotta, Juventus' transfer master and director general, told us so at the club's annual summer match between the big squad and the primavera at Villar Perosa. "We have completed the negotiation with Porto on a straight sale. Tomorrow he'll take the medical and we'll make it official. We took advantage of an opening with Porto, Alex Samdro will be a good investment." (Source: Gianluca Di Marzio) UPDATE: ALEX SANDRO IN TURIN AHEAD OF JUVENTUS MEDICAL. SOUND THE HORNS. Paolo Aghemo @AghemoPaolo Alex Sandro é a Torino. Le immagini del suo arrivo su #skysport24 Ah, that feeling you have is the sweet sense of Juventus transfer satisfaction. Alex Sandro will be a Juventus player. Because of that, Juventus will be getting one hell of a left back who, at the age of 24, will now be looked at as not just a long-term solution to a position of need, but also one that can contribute right away. This is what Juventus desperately needed, and Marotta swooped in like a dang bird of prey and got ti swiftly. The reported transfer fee to bring Alex Sandro to Turin is rumored to be around €22 million. It's a lot of money in terms of a straight transfer fee, sure, but something that teamed with a relatively low salary of €2 million or €2.5 million, it's a deal that is logical for both sides. Porto gets a fee worthy of the player and Juventus gets their much-desired left back. The best part of it all is that Sandro will be a Juventus player this time Thursday. And while he might not play any kind of role in Juventus' season-opening match against Udinese this weekend, it won't be too long before we see him bombing up and down the left wing as he wears a Juventus jersey. That sounds like a pretty good thing to watch to me. Good investment indeed, Beppe.

Title Race Wide Open Claims Juventus Coach http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/title-race-wide-open-claims-juventus-coach/? Aug 19, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri is sure Juventus will not have it all their own way in the upcoming Serie A season. Juve won the title last season in Allegri’s first year at the club and the former AC Milan coach has had his say on Paul Pogba’s role in midfield. “I think the title race is open,” Allegri told reporters after Juventus faced their primavera side in a pre season friendly. “It will not be easy for us to retain our crown. “Today against the primavera side was a good run out. “I am happy with how we played and I am confident ahead of the new season. “It will be a demanding season for us, we will need patience as we have many new players in the side. “For me Pogba can be a playmaker but it may take him a few years to grow and develop into the role.”

Juventus Season Preview 2015-16: Year Zero The start of the 2015-16 season marks 80 years since Juventus celebrated a fifth consecutive Serie A championship win as part of an era that would later come to be known as the Quinquennio d’Oro. http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/08/juventus-season-preview-2015-16-year-zero/? Aug 19, 2015 Several cycles of success have been built and sustained ever since, although this was the only previous occasion that the Old Lady had won more than two Scudetti in succession. However, the current generation can finally now equal that record of five consecutive league title wins having embarked on another trophy-laden spell over the last four years. No more was this success apparent than last season, as Juventus became the first Italian club to achieve a domestic double for a third time after claiming their tenth Coppa Italia with a 2-1 extra-time victory against Lazio. The Turin giants also re-established themselves as a force in Europe, keeping five clean sheets on a nine-game unbeaten run to reach their first Champions League final since 2003 before suffering a 3-1 loss to Barcelona in Berlin. But with the media, players and club hierarchy alike all claiming that the Bianconeri have began a new era after a summer of significant departures and arrivals, there are some doubts about whether they can continue their dominance this season. Transfers Long term planning has been central to their success since Andrea Agnelli was appointed as president and this strategy was evident as director general Beppe Marotta and sporting director Fabio Paratici began their summer transfer activity early. Paulo Dybala was signed from Palermo for an initial fee of €32 million two days prior the Champions League final, while Sami Khedira and Mario Mandzukic soon arrived in the following days and weeks of June. Extremely high-profile exits have since dominated the transfer window with Carlos Tevez getting his wish to return home to Boca Juniors granted, while Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal sought new adventures at New York City FC and Bayern Munich. With all the major departures and arrivals taking place in Turin, Tuttosport has defined the 2015-16 season being “Year Zero” for the Bianconeri as they build a side that can have a future together for the next four to five years. This has seen the average age of the squad reduced with Neto, Daniele Rugani and Simone Zaza replacing Marco Storari, Angelo Ogbonna, Simone Pepe and Fernando Llorente. The Coach – Massimiliano Allegri Rewarded with a one-year contract extension that will keep him tied to the Old Lady until 2017, the Tuscan tactician is now tasked of continuing the club’s winning cycle in his second season in charge. Adapting his approach to suit the new arrivals will be essential and Allegri can even to turn to his own coaching app that is ambitiously aiming to “become a virtual meeting room for trainers of all levels and from all countries.” ‘Mr Allegri Tactics’ also offers nutritional, psychological and training advice, although it may need further refinement after Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini, Sami Khedira and Alvaro Morata all suffered muscular injuries during pre-season. Season Expectations Allegri may have been quick to warn after the 2-1 friendly win at Lechia Gdansk that Juventus will face many more challenges this season after their rivals all strengthened their squads. But several of his players have since publicly spoken of their confidence that the Bianconeri can still build on the successes of last season as long as they continue to show the same commitment and hunger. The spine of the side still remains the same with Claudio Marchisio and Leonardo Bonucci both signing contract extensions, but there are increased expectations on younger players such as Stefano Sturaro and Paul Pogba to become more decisive. Pogba has more pressure than most after asking for the No.10 shirt left by Tevez, while there is a collective need to replace the goals of the Argentine after he managed at least 23 more than any other teammate over the last two seasons. Mandzukic and Dybala both made an immediate impact by scoring in the 2-0 Supercoppa Italiana win over Lazio and they will have to maintain this momentum if Juventus are to succeed in Serie A and the Champions League. No other side has finished as runners-up as many times in the history of the European competition after losing six finals, but their hopes of playing at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 28 2016 have been boosted by pot one seeding for the group phase draw. Prediction “Juve always win!” was the headline in the Corriere dello Sport the morning after they won a record seventh Supercoppa Italiana to silence some of those concerned about the changes at the club over the summer. Whether this statement is repeated again throughout this season will depend on how well the Bianconeri continue to evolve under Allegri, but what is certain is that they are still a step ahead of their competition off the pitch. Construction has started on a new headquarters, hotel and international school near the Juventus Stadium that will be collectively known as the J-Village and completed by 2017. Expected Finish: 1st (NB: this is not necessarily Scott Orkney’s opinion but the average of our editors’ predictions.)

Buffon tips Roma, Milan, Napoli http://www.football-italia.net/71288/buffon-tips-roma-milan-napoli? Aug 19, 2015 Gigi Buffon feels it will be tougher for Juventus this season, tipping Roma, Milan and Napoli. “You can’t win indefinitely.” The Bianconeri have won four consecutive Scudetti, the Coppa Italia and this month beat Lazio for the Italian Super Cup. They also lost stars like Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo, while Paulo Dybala, Mario Mandzukic and Sami Khedira arrived. “We cannot say whether Juve are stronger or weaker now,” Buffon told TuttoJuve.com. “It is a renovated Juventus, almost changed in its very foundations, because three important players left who went on a big journey with us and helped us to win a great deal. “Others have arrived with different characteristics, but I feel with the same quality, plus they are younger. It will certainly be more difficult to win this year, but we’re not abdicating before the season has even begun. “There are moments in history when a club has to take risks, to prove it has clear ideas and a long-term project. Juve want to teach us this and I think they’ve done very well. “You can’t win indefinitely, even when you are the strongest side. There are teams who have reinforced in Serie A and even begun a whole new era with great enthusiasm, so we have the utmost respect for the sides that will challenge us for the title. “Looking at the transfer market, Roma are certainly the team who reinforced the most this summer,” continued Buffon. “Amid the general transformation and the new project under Sinisa Mihajlovic, I also believe Milan will have a very good campaign, especially as they don’t have European commitments. “I think if Napoli fans and players are open to learn from Maurizio Sarri, then they too can be a wonderful surprise.”

Marotta: ‘Alex Sandro yes, Draxler no' http://www.football-italia.net/71271/marotta-‘alex-sandro-yes-draxler-no? Aug 19, 2015 Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta confirms Alex Sandro is close, but Julian Draxler has been ‘abandoned’. The Bianconeri are playing their traditional pre-season friendly against the youth team in Villar Perosa, and the director gave an update on the transfer situation. “I think we can close things for Alex Sandro in the evening,” Marotta told reporters. “We’ve kind of abandoned the Draxler option for several reasons, but we’re looking for a trequartista. We want a top player, they're not easy to find. "Henrikh Mkhitaryan? I don't know if Borussia [Dortmund] would sell him. [ilkay] Gundogan was a target, but I don't think it's feasibile. "Juan Cuadrado? Maybe he'll be on the market. We're looking for someone with different characteristics, but we have 10 days to fill the gap in midfield, so we'll see. "We have 10 days to get another player as well as Alex Sandro.” Last season’s top-scorer Carlos Tevez has left the Old Lady, but Marotta is sure Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic can fill the void. “They’re two signings we really wanted. They came to reinforce an area which is without a talent like Tevez. “It’s normal that we had to replace him, we had to try and find suitable replacements, and we think we’ve done that with these two lads.”

Alex Sandro skips Porto training http://www.football-italia.net/71252/alex-sandro-skips-porto-training? Aug 19, 2015 Alex Sandro did not train with Porto today, as the full-back’s move to Juventus draws closer. The Dragões are preparing for this weekend’s clash with Maritimo, but A Bola notes that the Brazilian was not present for today’s session. Gianluca Di Marzio’s website reports that the Bianconeri are working to conclude the transfer by the end of the day, allowing Alex Sandro to fly to Turin for a medical. A Bola believes Porto will give an update on the player’s situation after the training session, so confirmation of the transfer could be close. The 24-year-old is on the verge of completing a move worth around €22m, and is expected to sign a five-year contract worth €2.5m per season.

Alex Sandro would be great for Juventus, says Dunga The Brazil boss has compared the left-back to Roberto Carlos and has little doubt he would be an instant hit in Turin. http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2015/08/19/14566232/-? Aug 19, 2015 Brazil coach Dunga believes Porto defender Alex Sandro would prove to be a great signing for Juventus if he were to join the Serie A champions. The 24-year-old is heavily linked with a move away from Porto following his refusal to sign a new contract, with his existing deal due to expire in June 2016. Atletico Madrid previously showed an interest in signing the left-back, but Juventus now appear to be sitting in pole position to lure Alex Sandro away from his current club and Dunga is confident he will succeed at the Scudetto holders. "Alex Sandro would be a great signing for Juventus. He is a classic Brazilian full-back. He has a fine technique and a drive forward. He reminds me of Roberto Carlos a bit," Dunga was quoted as saying by Tuttosport. "I know him pretty well and have already called him up for Brazil in the past. I keep a close eye on all candidates for the national team, including Alex Sandro. "He has developed well at Porto. He has improved since his time at Santos. He is capable of sending in good crosses for the attackers, but is also strong in his positioning. He is a typical Brazilian left-back. "He is similar to Roberto Carlos, especially at a technical level and when you look at their dribbling skills. Alex Sandro is a bit less physical, though. He is not as powerful as Roberto Carlos was." Juventus are hopeful of sealing a deal for the Brazil international in the upcoming days, making him their seventh signing of the summer following the arrivals of Sami Khedira, Mario Mandzukic, Simone Zaza, Neto, Guido Vadala and Paulo Dybala.