Socrates

Paolo Rossi: Juventus Have The Strength In Depth To Regain Scudetto http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/07/rossi-juventus-have-the-strength-in-depth-to-regain-scudetto/? Jul 17, 2015 Former Juventus forward Paolo Rossi believes that the Bianconeri have the strength to regain their Serie A title next year despite the improved squads of Inter and AC Milan. The 58-year-old has discussed the transfer business of each side and has stated that the Nerazzurri will be the closest competitors to Juve. “Inter have completed the signing of Kondogbia and Juve have got Paulo Dybala,” Rossi told Mediaset. “The Argentine is a great talent and a player I like very much. “Bacca is also a good acquisition for Milan. “Despite this, I still believe that Juve remain the favourites for the title as they have the strong habit of winning. Inter will be their closest challengers.” Rossi has also analysed The Old Lady’s chances in the Champions League next season as well as the potential return of Zlatan Ibrahimovich to Italy. “In Europe Juve will be among the last eight in the competition,” the former Milan striker continued. “Then after that it all depends upon the squad and the various conditions. “As for Ibrahimovich, a team consists of more than just one player.”

Mario Mandzukic targets Champions League with Juventus 'idol' Buffon http://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/2526159/mario-mandzukic-eyes-juve-european-glory-with-idol-buffon? Jul 17, 2015 Mario Mandzukic admits one of the greatest aspects about his move to Juventus is the opportunity to play alongside childhood hero Gianluigi Buffon, and is targeting Champions League success in Turin. Mandzukic, 29, has beaten Buffon before, scoring in Bayern Munich's defeat of Juventus in the quarterfinals of the Champions League three seasons ago. Now the Croatia international will only be facing the Italy goalkeeper in training after signing from Atletico Madrid for €19 million, but is relishing the prospect of being in the same side as the 37-year-old. "He is my idol since when I was a kid," Mandzukic said at a news conference in Turin. "I've told him this many times when I spoke to him." The former Wolfsburg and Bayern striker revealed that he followed the club for many years before being given the opportunity to join them this summer. "Juventus are a fantastic club that I have long admired for their track record of winning titles, so this has been a straightforward decision," he told the club's official website. "The side boasts many excellent players and they are the best team in Italy." Mandzukic is eyeing success in Europe after the Bianconeri reached last season's final, only to be beaten by Treble winners Barcelona. "Nobody expected Juventus to reach the final and doing so was a demonstration of a job well done by the manager and players," Mandzukic added. "They were unfortunate to lose in the end, but it represents a good omen for this season, as we bid to regroup and finally lift the trophy. "Juventus are an awkward side to play against. Previous matches count amongst the most difficult I have ever played. I am delighted now to be a part of this team and to not have to face them again." Mandzukic will wear the No. 17 shirt for the Bianconeri -- the same worn by David Trezeguet.

Juve deny Marotta-Raiola rift http://www.football-italia.net/69309/juve-deny-marotta-raiola-rift? Jul 17, 2015 Juventus deny that director general Beppe Marotta ever attacked agent Mino Raiola's statements and play down the controversy. The prominent agent claimed yesterday that Barcelona would have to speak to him, rather than to the Bianconeri, if they hoped to sign Paul Pogba. The site of Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo published some statements by Marotta this morning that came down heavily on the agent, suggesting a clash between the club and the agent. But according to Sky Sports Italia, Juventus are now disclaiming the controversy, as Marotta apparently never said anything to El Mundo Deportivo. Sky Sports speculates that the Spanish outlet simply reformulated some old quotes by Marotta.

Why Paulo Dybala Is the Most Important Summer Signing for Juventus http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2523368-why-paulo-dybala-is-the-most-important-summer-signing-for-juventus? Jul 17, 2015 The pre-season preparations are firmly underway for Juventus, with players beginning to report for duty ahead of the forthcoming campaign. There are, however, a number of familiar faces missing, Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez having already moved on, with Arturo Vidal seemingly set to follow suit, as reported by BBC Sport. There are also some new signings, of course, with the Turin giants having worked quickly to secure replacements for those departing stars. Mario Mandzukic and Simone Zaza will look to match the Argentinian’s incredible scoring record, while the expectation surrounding Sami Khedira was discussed at length in this previous column. Yet despite two of that trio having tasted Champions League glory with their former clubs, Paulo Dybala is the one summer addition the Bianconeri arguably need the most from. He is certainly the most expensive, with the official club website noting they had paid Palermo no less than €32 million, with a further €8 million in potential add-ons. He spent his first day at the training ground on Tuesday this week, with a press conference held a day later to introduce him to the media, as the player himself explained what he expected from the move. “Playing for a great club like Juventus represents an important step for me,” Dybala said per the official Juventus website. “I hope to develop both as a player and as a person and to become a key member of the team.” Clearly, having made such a substantial investment, the Bianconeri will expect the same from the man who will be pulling on the No. 21 shirt in 2015/16. One of the main things the side needs from Dybala is the creativity both Pirlo—who previously wore that same number—and Tevez brought to the side. That duo led the team in terms of key passes last season, with statistics from WhoScored.com showing they averaged 2.2 and 1.9 respectively in that category. It is telling that the same source shows the next highest tally among the first-team regulars was Paul Pogba, with just 1.4 such passes per game. Figures from Squawka.com show Tevez led the club in terms of overall chances created with 61, but there is hope Dybala can make up for that shortfall. The 21-year-old notched 10 assists last term, a league-high mark and a number better than any Juventus player managed in 2014/15, where Claudio Marchisio managed a total of six to lead the current squad. According to WhoScored, Dybala made an average of 1.7 key passes in his 34 appearances, and the graphic below highlights his impressive ability to create opportunities for others compared to his new team-mates. His former coach Beppe Iachini has warned against expecting too much of the striker, who netted 13 goals last term. “He has to find a way to wait for his chance at Juventus, to show he deserves a chance and to play when he gets that chance,” the Palermo boss when Tele Radio Stereo asked him about the move (h/t Football Italia). “At a higher level, playing for a top team, you have to know how to wait, and take advantage of moments, of chances,” Iachini continued. Thanks to that high price tag, however, there will likely be intense pressure placed upon his shoulders, and as the heat grew at that inaugural press conference, Dybala was forced to wipe away a few beads of sweat as he went on to say that Juventus was “the perfect club to start winning things.” When the spotlight falls upon him in the forthcoming campaign, the Bianconeri will hope he steps up to help them do just that, and Paulo Dybala is arguably the man they will rely upon most to fill the void left by those high-profile departures.

'Roma? Juventus still stronger' http://www.football-italia.net/69303/roma-juventus-still-stronger? Jul 17, 2015 Former Inter midfielder Esteban Cambiasso favours Juventus over Roma, while stressing that Milan and Inter need the Champions League. The triplete winner is the Argentinian player with the greatest number of trophies after Lionel Messi, and when asked who the favourites were to win next year's Scudetto, his answer was unambiguous. “Juventus,” he said. “Those who won the title the previous year are always in pole position. “Next to them I see Roma. It's no accident that they came second for two seasons in a row. “In the Champions League, Juventus started having faith after their victory in Dortmund [3-0 against Borussia Dortmund], that was the turning point. “Even though they lost [the final] against Barcelona, it was an unforgettable season for them. “I'm not highly affected by the idea of the clubs from Milan being in the hands of foreign owners. “But it's really strange for me to see Inter and Milan both away from European competitions, especially in the year when Milan hosts the Champions League final.”

'Juve owns Pogba, not Raiola' http://www.football-italia.net/69302/juve-owns-pogba-not-raiola? Jul 17, 2015 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta comes down hard on agent Mino Raiola, asking clubs to ignore him over Paul Pogba. The influential agent made a bold statement yesterday, claiming precedence on the possible deal to bring Pogba to Barcelona. “First Barcelona will have to negotiate with me, then with Juventus, but they can do so,” he said. It seems his argument did not go down well with Marotta, who contradicted it with no half measures. “Those who want Paul will have to negotiate with Juventus, not with Mino Raiola, who is only his agent,” he told El Mundo Deportivo. “We've been negotiating with Barcelona for months, from one club to the other, in a serious and transparent manner. “This is the right way to do business between two teams that have so much history and importance in the world of football. “The situation is clear between Juventus and Barcelona since the meeting we had in Milan with their director of sporting institutional relations, Albert Soler, and my friend Ariedo Braida. “Barcelona made a serious and concrete offer, but we rejected anyway.”

Mario Mandzukic says it was an easy decision to sign with Juventus this summer http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/7/16/8976329/juventus-mario-mandzukic-introductory-press-conference-shirt-number Jul 16, 2015 As we can easily figure out, Mario Mandzukic is not a direct replacement for Carlos Tévez simply because of what kind of strikers each of them are. However, there's no denying that the 29-year-old Mandzukic will be looked upon to be one of the main goal-scoring threats in a couple of months and the next few years going forward just in the same way Tévez was the past two seasons. Juventus continued its week of introductory press conferences on Thursday afternoon. #DybalaDay has transitioned nicely into #KhediraDay, and now, amidst rumors of one of Juve's best signings in recent memory heading out the door, we got to enjoy #MandzukicDay. (I personally feel like Rubinho was robbed of one a few years ago, by the way.) And, of course, there was yet another jersey number to reveal, with Mandzukic being the first summer signee going with a number a lot of people actually thought he would pick when he first signed with Juve a few weeks back. Ah, Mario, you've become predictable already! JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@MarioMandzukic9 is all smiles at the start of his adventure in black and white. A Juventus prima punta wearing the No. 17 once again. Excuse me while I have some feelings here, people. (And no, it's not because that jersey number was worn by Paulo De Ceglie, Eljero Elia and Armand Traore in recent years. Just stop thinking that right now.) Yes, Mandzukic is the best player — by a considerable margin, too — to wear the No. 17 jersey since the days of David Trezeguet celebrating goals in the arms of Alessandro Del Piero. (FEELINGS!) There was no way he was going to get the No. 9 he wore last season in Spain due to a certain Álvaro Morata being around, so Mandzukic went went the next best thing — the same number he wears with the Croatia national team. Mandzukic said his affinity for Juventus has grown over the years and that the decision to sign with the four-time defending Serie A champions. And, whether it was for a laugh on top of the seriousness, Mandzukic added that not having to play against Juventus also factored in his decision to trade in the red and white stripes of Atlético Madrid for those lovely black and white ones our beloved Old Lady features. JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@MarioMandzukic9: "Juventus are used to winning and lifting trophies. I hope I'm able to do my bit to help maintain this tradition." Amen, Mario. We're hoping that tradition continues, too.

Mandzukic: I didn't want to face Juventus any more! The Croatian has admitted he is delighted by the fact that he no longer has to deal with the Bianconeri's brilliant backline. http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4682/transfer-zone/2015/07/16/13645172/-? Jul 16, 2015 Mario Mandzukic says he joined Juventus because he didn't want to have to play against the Serie A champions any more. The former Atletico Madrid attacker faced the Bianconeri twice in the Champions League last term before agreeing to move to Turin this summer for a fee that is expected to rise to €19 million. Mandzukic revealed at his official unveiling that Juve captain Gianluigi Buffon played a key role in his decision, but added that he was mainly fed up of having to deal with the Bianconeri's famed defence. "Before coming here, I spoke with Buffon and I told him that he was my idol since I was a kid," the 29-year-old told reporters on Thursday. "But Juventus are the best team in Serie A. They are used to winning and lifting trophies. I hope I am able to do my bit to help maintain this tradition. "My reason for joining Juve was simple: they're a great team and it was an easy decision to make. "It's always difficult to play against Juve. The games against have been the most difficult in my career. "My decision was also borne of this: I no longer wanted to have to play against them!" Juve have lost two men who played a key role in last season's run to the final of the Champions League, with Andrea Pirlo moving to MLS side New York City and Carlos Tevez returning to boyhood club Boca Juniors. However, Mandzukic believes the duo will be adequately replaced by the Bianconeri, who have already brought in Simone Zaza, Paulo Dybala and Sami Khedira. "Pirlo and Tevez are extraordinary players and any squad would miss them," the ex-Bayern Munich man added. "But as some leave, others will arrive. Juve think always of the future. There are already new reinforcements. I wish and hope that we remain as strong as last season."

Mandzukic: ‘Gotze can play in any team’ http://www.football-italia.net/69287/mandzukic-%E2%80%98gotze-can-play-any-team%E2%80%99? Jul 16, 2015 Juventus target Mario Gotze ‘can play in any team’, according to Bianconeri striker Mario Mandzukic. The Old Lady are on the verge of selling Arturo Vidal to Bayern Munich, with speculation some of the transfer fee could be used to tempt Gotze to Turin. “I’ve played with him [at Bayern], he could play in any team,” Mandzukic said at his official presentation. “He’s a player of great quality, and a good guy. “As for [Andrea] Pirlo and [Carlos] Tevez [who have left], they’re great players, who any team would miss. “But as some leave, others arrive. Juve are always thinking ahead, there are new recruits, fresh faces and I hope we can be as strong as last season. “Juventus are used to winning, winning titles and achieving things, and I hope that I can give my contribution to that.” The striker then revealed he will take David Trezeguet’s old squad number, but refused to predict how many goals he’ll score this season. “I’m not going to promise a certain number of goals, I just promise to always make myself available for the team and do my best. “As for my number, I’ve chosen 17, because of my beginnings in Croatia in the second division, and when I started with the professionals I kept 17. “The number 17 is also what I wear for the national team, I had the opportunity to choose, so that’s what I did. I hope it will be lucky for me, as it always has been.” Finally, Mandzukic discussed the team’s aims for next season, and believes the Old Lady can be a force in Europe again. “Nobody expected that Juventus would get to the final [last season],” the striker said. “It’s testament to the good work done by the team and the Coach [Max Allegri]. I saw the final, the teams were well-matched and had opportunities to win. “Juventus were just a bit less lucky. “Unfortunately in the final they didn’t make it, but often it’s a good thing for the next season if you start where you ended, wanting to win the coveted trophy.”

Stephan Lichtsteiner Compares Favourably vs. Europe's Best Right-Backs http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2523734-juventus-stephan-lichtsteiner-compares-favourably-vs-europes-best-right-backs? Jul 16, 2015 Stephan Lichtsteiner has been a superb player for Juventus, the Swiss international having helped the Bianconeri win the Serie A title in each of his four seasons with the club. Arriving from fellow Italian side Lazio in the summer of 2011, he has proved to be excellent value for the €10 million fee paid by the Turin giants. If the club can clinch a fifth-consecutive Scudetto next term, Lichtsteiner would become a member of only the third team ever to achieve that feat, following in the footsteps of Juve’s 1930s' side and the Torino team that dominated the following decade. Making a major contribution to that success, the question of whether the 31-year-old should be seen among the world’s best at his position is raised, given he maintains an incredible level of consistency every time he steps on the field. With that in mind, what follows is a comparison between Lichtsteiner and his contemporaries in the right-back role. Dani Alves of Barcelona, Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and Real Madrid star Daniel Carvajal are often touted as Europe’s best, while Danilo—who has joined Real Madrid from Porto—has also been included. The latter has already made 14 appearances for Brazil and won seven major honours, a tally he will clearly hope to add to at the Santiago Bernabeu. Eldest of the five men, Alves leads the way in this department, lifting no fewer than 29 trophies throughout his career, which puts him far ahead of Lichtsteiner’s tally of 10 as well as Ivanovic (9) and Carvajal (6). In terms of individual statistics—which appear courtesy of WhoScored.com, unless otherwise stated—the first category analysed was tackling. That site's figures show Alves again as the front-runner, averaging 4.1 per game in 2014/15, which ranked fifth among all players across Europe’s top five leagues. Carvajal made an impressive 2.9 himself, with Ivanovic (2.3), Danilo (2.1) and Lichtsteiner (1.3) unable to better those tallies. Winning a higher percentage of battles while committing fewer fouls and making no defensive errors shows just how reliable Lichtsteiner has become, now integral to a Juve back line that kept an incredible 19 clean sheets in Serie A last term. The full-back is no less impressive at the other end of the field, weighing in with three goals and five assists in his 26 league starts. Ivanovic scored once more and matched Lichtsteiner’s tally of assists, while Danilo netted on six occasions and Carvajal failed to get his name on the scoresheet. Carvajal also created three goals, a figure Alves bettered with six, and it is no surprise to see the Barcelona man also leads the way here too in what is a key weapon for any player in this role. He connected with an average of 1.2 crosses per game for Barcelona, but Lichtsteiner is comfortably second, as his 0.8 per game is exactly double the tally managed by Carvajal, Danilo and Ivanovic (all 0.4). However, at 1.85 metres tall, the Chelsea star—who is slightly taller than Danilo (1.84 metres)—leads all five men in terms of headers won with 2.6 per game. That hints at his ability to also play in central defence, with Lichtsteiner (1.2) again second ahead of Alves (0.9), Danilo (0.9) and Carvajal (0.7). While he may trail the slightly older Alves in terms of crosses, trophies won and tackles made, Lichtsteiner has the edge in other areas that mark him out as perhaps a better defender without sacrificing too much in the way of offensive input. He will undoubtedly be ready to help Juventus clinch that record-equalling fifth league title next season and etch his name into the rich history of Italian football’s grand old lady. “Lifting a trophy shows how hard you worked,” the Swiss star told me in an interview with the Independent, “and remembering it gives you the energy and motivation to do it again!”

‘Pogba? I’ll speak to the President…’ http://www.football-italia.net/69186/%E2%80%98pogba-i%E2%80%99ll-speak-president%E2%80%A6%E2%80%99 Jul 15, 2015 Barcelona Coach Luis Enrique he’ll discuss Juventus’ Paul Pogba ‘next week, with whoever is the new President’. The Catalan club are in the midst of a Presidential election campaign, with Joan Laporta in particular using Pogba as a campaign pledge, and Juventus rejecting an €80m bid from the interim leadership. “I don’t want to talk about players who aren’t at Barcelona,” Luis Enrique said in a Press conference. 
“That said, it doesn’t bother me that they’ve used my name in relation to him. He’s an interesting player, and I’ll be happy to discuss him next week, with whoever is the new President.”

Transfer Predictor: Fernando Llorente The Juventus striker may be ousted in Turin by new signing Mario Mandzukic but his combination of aerial strength and goalscoring prowess has interested a number of clubs. http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2015/07/14/13541652/transfer-predictor-fernando-llorente?ICID=TP_TNM_ART_1 Jul 15, 2015 Fernando Llorente was restricted to a bit-part role at Juventus last season and failed to hit double figures in goals in all competitions for only the second time in eight seasons. The arrival of Mario Mandzukic will further limit his opportunities in Turin and it seems likely that last month’s Champions League final, in which Llorente appeared as a late substitute, will prove his last game in black and white stripes. Plenty of clubs across Europe are said to be interested. The 30-year-old was linked with a move to the Premier League when he left Athletic Club and once again, Tottenham and Liverpool are among the teams reportedly eyeing his signature. Is Llorente part of your Transfer Predictor starting XI? Goal examines the options the Spain international could be weighing up. LIVERPOOL Liverpool sorely lacked attacking firepower last season following the departure of Luis Suarez. A fully fit Daniel Sturridge and newcomer Danny Ings should improve the situation but Brendan Rodgers is likely to be in the market for further reinforcements, and has money to spend. Llorente is a proven goalscorer and would add experience to a young side but does not seem to be a natural fit for the Rodgers mould – fellow target men Andy Carroll and Lambert have not fared well at Anfield in recent seasons. That said, Llorente had the best season of his career – scoring 29 goals – under the very progressive Marcelo Bielsa at Athletic, providing astute hold-up play and taking advantage of the service provided by the quicker, creative midfielders behind him. TOTTENHAM Harry Kane is and will remain Tottenham’s clear first-choice striker but Mauricio Pochettino must hope to have more depth and options at his disposal in attack this season. Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado contributed little in 2014-15 and Spurs will likely show both the door if any kind of reasonable offer arrives. Pochettino will have been disappointed to miss out on Ings, who, as a young, improving English player fits their recruitment philosophy, but Llorente could be an affordable, capable stop-gap. The Spaniard could partner Kane or lead the line alone in the academy product’s absence and would be a dangerous weapon to use from the bench. REAL MADRID With all eyes on David de Gea, Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos, there has been unusually little talk of Real Madrid’s attempts to strengthen their forward line. Karim Benzema looks likely to stay in Spain and it has been suggested Cristiano Ronaldo could move to more of a central striking position this season. There is still room for more depth, however; Javier Hernandez was brought in from Manchester United as cover last season and Madrid were linked to Robin van Persie and Falcao for a similar role. Llorente could tick that box – the question is whether he would find such a move attractive. Hernandez started only seven league games for Madrid last season and has fallen off the radar of Europe’s top clubs due to the lack of match action. On the other hand, Llorente could be attracted by the prospect of moving back to Spain and there is no better move he could realistically make in search of silverware.

Juve dominate UEFA player list http://www.football-italia.net/69244/juve-dominate-uefa-player-list? Jul 15, 2015 Juventus stars make up half the 10 nominees for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. The Bianconeri did the Double domestically and reached the Champions League Final, losing to Barcelona. UEFA released the list of nominees for best player in European competition this season and Juve dominate the pack. Gigi Buffon, Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal, Carlos Tevez and Andrea Pirlo are all up for the award. They will challenge the Barcelona trio of Leo Messi, Andres Iniesta and Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. The list was put together by a jury of journalists and players from 54 UEFA Federations. The top three will be revealed on August 12 ahead of the trophy winner on August 28.

Liverpool And Real Madrid Join Chase For Llorente http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/07/liverpool-and-real-madrid-join-chase-for-juventus-striker/? Jul 15, 2015 Liverpool and Real Madrid would both be chasing Juventus’ Spanish striker Fernando Llorente. The striker has been deemed surplus to requirements, after the Turin club brought Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala to compensate for the departure of Carlos Tevez. According to Sky Sport Italia, new Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez would be keen on the 30-year-old striker. Joining the race would be Liverpool, who have also been in the hunt for a new striker. TuttoSport also reported the added caveat of Porto, whose left-back Alex Sandro Juventus would interested in. The Portuguese giants have slapped a €15 million price tag on the Brazilian, with Juventus possibly including Llorente as part of the deal to lure away the defender. Llorente made 45 appearances in all competitions for the Bianconeri last season, however only scoring nine goals and making one assist.

Luciano Moggi cleared of defaming ex-Inter chief Facchetti http://www.espnfc.co.uk/italian-serie-a/story/2523701/luciano-moggi-cleared-of-defaming-ex-inter-chief-facchetti? Jul 15, 2015 Former Juventus executive Luciano Moggi has been cleared of defaming former Inter Milan president Giacinto Facchetti in a case related to the 2006 match-fixing scandal that shook Italian football. A judge in Milan ruled on Wednesday that Moggi did not commit a crime. Moggi was accused of defaming Facchetti on a TV show in 2010, alleging the Inter official fixed matches with referee requests. Those were the same charges Moggi himself faced, as he was considered the mastermind of a plot to influence refereeing assignments. Moggi's 28-month jail term for criminal association was thrown out this year after the statute of limitations expired. Facchetti died in 2006, and the trial was brought by his son Gianfelice. A prosecutor requested Moggi be fined 10,000 euros ($11,000).

Paulo Dybala Will Be the Emerging Face of Serie A This Season http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2522439-paulo-dybala-will-be-the-emerging-face-of-serie-a-this-season? Jul 15, 2015 Juventus are set to usher in a new era up front after parting ways with the excellent Carlos Tevez, and first in line to assume his crown is new signing Paulo Dybala. Signed for a princely sum of around €40 million, per ESPNFC, he faces the unenviable task of replicating what his fellow Argentine has done in Turin for the past two seasons. Indeed, despite Dybala's arrival and clear burgeoning talent, many believe letting Tevez leave this summer is a huge mistake on the part of the Bianconeri. Tevez was the best player in Serie A last season; he managed 20 goals and seven assists from 29 starts, per WhoScored.com, and excelled in the UEFA Champions League, leading The Old Lady to the final in Berlin off the back of a further seven strikes. To let him go back to Boca Juniors, whatever the price, is a nice sentimental gesture, but it's weakened the best forward line in the league. A rebuild must ensue, and the gauntlet appears to have been laid down at Dybala's feet. Can the €40 million man keep Juve afloat at the top of the pile, achieving success akin to Tevez and spearheading another wildly successful season? 1. Physical Dybala has drawn comparisons to some remarkably well-respected players, though that's mostly via the rather large mouth of his former president at Palermo, Maurizio Zamparini. In 2012, he was "The New Aguero," per Corriere dello Sport, then earlier this year he became "part Lionel Messi, part Vincenzo Montella," per UEFA.com. First and foremost, and before we even begin to delve into Dybala the footballer, the comparison to Aguero stacks up physically and athletically; it's easy to see why Zamparini is hauling superlatives out of the well for the benefit of his former charge. At 5'9", Dybala stands an inch taller than both Tevez and Aguero, and he boasts the same stocky, low-to-the-ground frame. All three have superb core strength and low centres of gravity, capable of planting their feet and turning tightly, exploding into sprints and nipping around in tight spaces. Dybala is aerially small and won't welcome cross-heavy situations, but has enough muscle to grind through duels and can certainly add to a well-proportioned frame. He also boasts bite and tenacity; Serie A defenders know he's not an easy one to knock off the ball. His somatotype is perfect for the kind of player he is: a deep-lying forward or drop-in striker, looking to find space, turn and run. 2. Link Play Dybala is a link forward, and a damn good one at that. You can draw comparisons between him and Tevez on nearly every level, be it physical, stylistic or even nationality-based. Losing Tevez is a blow for Juventus, but they literally could not have done a better job of finding a replacement for him—unless, of course, Sergio Aguero happened to hit the market. The last half-decade has been particularly kind to The Old Lady, with Antonio Conte bringing them trophy-laden dominance domestically, then Massimiliano Allegri taking the project a step further and re-entering their name into the pantheon of European relevants. That success has been predicated not only on the magisterial genius of Andrea Pirlo in a deep, creative role, but also a link forward capable of adding a more direct dimension to Juve's play. You can go back to Mirko Vucinic under Conte, or flick forward to Tevez under Allegri to appreciate how the club have successfully used this type of player. Dybala is that player, and the Juve system will suit him down to the ground. He'll be able to replicate what Tevez did at Signal Iduna Park last season on the way to the Champions League, dropping in off the front line to collect passes, turn and push on. The Argentine can filter back from the No. 9 role and lurk, waiting for clearances from deep to latch onto. He gets his body in between ball and marker, twists low and surges forward. His agility, quickness and top-end speed are all superb, and he fights for every yard by aggressively warding off markers. His distribution and decision-making, even on the run, are at a high level already; his chance creation for teammates throughout the 2014-15 season reached prolific, playmaker-esque levels at times. 3. Dribbling Dribbling and ball control is one of Dybala's key assets; he buys himself time to think and to play by weaving around to find openings and angles that suit his needs. He also finds passes he otherwise wouldn't by flummoxing defenders and beating them one vs. one. By the end of this game, The Neroverdi were attempting to spear-tackle Dybala to the ground, such were their frustrations with his ability to evade their grasp. He continually slipped in and out of pockets, danced between challenges and ducked heavier attempts to haul him down. He's as capable dribbling outside as inside, using that good pace to knock the ball ahead of or around his man. He jinks inside or explodes over the top; either is an effective route to goal in his mind. In 2014-15 he represented a dribbling monster, attempting 12.1 dribbles per game and managing a remarkable 47.4 percent success rate, per Sportsmatrix. He was significantly more efficient than Zaza, about as good as Tevez and just slightly behind the brilliant Felipe Anderson. 4. Through Balls We have touched briefly on his passing, commending its quality. Short-to-medium range is strong and concise, and he posted an 81.6 percent completion percentage in Serie A last season, per WhoScored.com—not bad for a player who rarely makes any passes without pressure. But one of the most eye-popping parts of Dybala's game is his through ball, leading to overall chance creation. He's able to drop off the front line, collect, turn and go, but he's also able to spot early passes and thread them through without fuss. The weight on some of his threaded passes is simply sublime; he lays it perfectly into the path of on-rushing wingers and runners, releasing them into the space he only recently vacated. In a way, he's showing false-nine tendencies even at 21 years of age—a remarkable feat. It must be said, that in playing for a weaker side in Palermo, he didn't always make the quick decision and lay it off; sometimes, he simply kept it and opted to dribble, perhaps not trusting his team-mates. Still, according to Sportsmatrix, he averaged an attempted 7.2 chances created per game—level with Tevez (7.2), just behind Felipe Anderson (8.6) and far, far ahead of fellow Juve inductee Simone Zaza (3.3); it can't be said that he's a greedy player (above image). Having a multi-faceted game as a link forward is key, and remaining unpredictable is paramount to success. In averaging high numbers in both dribbles and through balls, and in retaining the willingness to run in behind, Dybala has his marker on the back foot every time. 5. Channel Runs It can't all be about Dybala with the ball at his feet; to be worth €40 million to a club, the off-the-ball work needs to stack up too. Granted, at Palermo he was the main man. Only fellow countryman Franco Vazquez helped to shoulder the offensive load, managing three less Serie A goals than Dybala (10) but just as many assists (10), per WhoScored.com. That means Dybala is seeing lots of the ball as his team seeks him out; his chances to show off-the-ball intelligence are more limited than most young forwards coming through. That said, one aspect that did impress was his understanding of how to stretch the pitch. Many players of his ilk are guilty of shrinking the area in which they can play subconsciously by drifting and dropping inward and never gambling with runs; Dybala, on the other hand, varies his patterns and stretches the pitch vertically for himself and others. Notably, his channel-running is strong. He flexes forward to push his marker backward, then drops back in to receive the pass in the space he's created. Next he'll actually run in beyond, asking for a threaded passes, tangling the defender's legs and laying the foundations for a difficult afternoon. He has the requisite speed to trouble in the channels even when he's not bluffing, and favours the right-hand side, sitting on the shoulder of the left-sided centre-back. It allows him to cut inside on his favoured left foot and bear down on goal. 6. Finishing Dybala's a very one-footed finisher, favouring his left side. It hasn't necessarily been a problem for him so far, but he does visibly contort his body to squeeze his left foot over the ball to finish wherever possible. His goal tally—13 for the league season—is inflated somewhat by his set-piece ability; he takes goal-range free-kicks (superbly, might we add) and penalties, so we have to delve a little deeper into his film to assess his true prowess in front of goal. The results suggest a ridiculously cool finisher—provided it falls to his left boot. He sweeps home with ease, pauses and forces the goalkeeper to make mistakes before he buries balls and can score beauties from range, too. His technique when contacting the ball is consistently excellent, boasting that enviable lazy strike that seems to just stroke it home on a whim. He's far from perfect—his shot:goal ratio is a measly 9:1—and he's not afraid to take on the ambitious attempt from the angle—sometimes to a fault. But what Dybala is is a very natural striker of the ball with the self-confidence to match his ability; at 21 years of age, that clinical edge has time to develop. Projection Juventus have decided to entirely overhaul their striking corps this summer, signing no less than three players (Dybala, Zaza and Mario Mandzukic) to complement Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Morata. The depth of the position gives Massimiliano Allegri options, but also relieves pressure on those with big expectations surrounding them. Dybala is not a shy man and likely won't shrink under pressure, but Juventus' tactic in replacing Tevez with him and Zaza, while expensive, should bear fruit. Llorente could well depart, but Mandzukic is the replacement for the big man and will open the possibility of another big man-small man combination. Dybala has all of the requisite instincts and abilities to emulate Tevez for Juventus, and the club will hope he grows into that prominent role within the next two years. His raw ability is unrivalled by most in the sport, and should he work the few kinks out of his still-inexperienced game, there's no stopping him. With the passing of the torch at Juve, from Tevez to Dybala, comes perhaps an interesting situation on the international scale too. How long will it be before Argentina opt to cap and trial the latter, perhaps even pushing the former out of the picture in the process? 2015-16 will be huge for Dybala from a domestic, continental and international perspective. He's a burgeoning Serie A talent just waiting to be let loose on the bigger stage, and he stands to taste, at the very least, a first European adventure, awarding him the chance to etch his name across the minds of those yet to realise his majesty.

Sami Khedira says he "wanted a fresh challenge" by signing with Juventus There's also more jersey number news for everybody to read about. Everybody loves when there's more jersey number news! You just can't get enough of that jersey number news. http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/7/15/8968449/juventus-sami-khedira-introductory-press-conference-shirt-number Jul 15, 2015 Wearing an adidas jersey is far from a foreign concept to new Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira. He's been rocking them for years with the German national team. He wore all kinds of adidas gear during his five-year tenure with former European champions, Real Madrid. Outside of his fancy Nike boots, he's been had an adidas logo on his club and country's jersey ever since the summer of 2010. It's not like that's going to change coming the beginning of the 2015-16 season. Khedira, who arrived on a free transfer from Real Madrid, was formally presented as a Juventus player on Wednesday. Twenty-four hours after it was #DybalaDay, it was #KhediraDay across Juve's various platforms of social media, with the German international meeting the Italian press for the first time after the completion of his move from Real Madrid to Juventus earlier this summer. And, you guessed it, he got his new adidas jersey, too. Yep, it's Khedira holding another adidas jersey. HOW SHOCKING, RIGHT? But this one is a Juventus adidas jersey, with Kherdira sporting a new number to go along with his new team. Although, the new number isn't exactly "new" to the 28-year-old German. Wearing the No. 28 with Juventus is an homage to the number he wore with his first professional club, Stuttgart. (And no, it's not because of somebody else who used to wear the number at Juventus.) Yes, it's the second straight day that a new Juventus signing goes with a number we weren't expecting him to go with. People thought Paulo Dybala would go with No. 7, he went with 21. My money was on Khedira to go with No. 16, he switched things up on us and went with the aforementioned 28. But enough with all the number talk. Here's the real reason why Khedira was presented to the media on Wednesday afternoon — so the press could ask him important questions. You know, like why he chose to spurn offers from Germany and England and sign with Juventus instead. JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen #Khedira: "I wanted a fresh challenge and Juventus gives me just that. They're on the same level as @realmadrid." Ah, how refreshing. Khedira could have gone anywhere he so pleased, but it was Juventus were he felt like he could try and get back to being the player who so many teams wanted to sign before his injury troubles. New adventure, plenty of motivation. That sounds like a good combination to me. Khedira acknowledged the fact that breaking into the starting lineup won't be an easy task. Unlike Dybala who will be joining a new-look strikeforce, Khedira is joining a midfield that is exactly the same outside of Andrea Pirlo heading off to New York. Claudio Marchisio is here with a new contract to boot, Paul Pogba hasn't left yet despite the fact he's heading to about five different teams based on the latest transfer rumors. And let us not forget about Arturo Vidal, who is off on a much-deserved vacation after winning Copa America. It's a stacked midfield. So, basically, Khedira is simply adding to the strength of the team. And like I've been saying ever since the Khedira deal became officially official, it's going to be quite interesting as to how Max Allegri uses his newest midfielder with so many other talented players already in bianconero. I guess that's something we won't have to wait all that long to figure out since the new season is quickly approaching. There's no doubting that there will be quite a few eyeballs on Khedira as he begins his new adventure at Juventus, that's for sure.

Inter's Kondogbia: Evra key in picking Italy over Premier League move http://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/2523200/patrice-evra-convinced-inter-signing-kondogbia-of-italy-move? Jul 15, 2015 Geoffrey Kondogbia has told L'Equipe that Juventus' Patrice Evra helped convince him to shun Premier League suitors and join Inter Milan this summer. Kondogbia, 22, signed a five-year deal with Inter after completing a €37 million move from Monaco -- the third-biggest transfer of the summer so far. The midfielder had a host of clubs chasing him following his impressive displays in helping Monaco to the Champions League quarterfinals last season, with Arsenal and Tottenham reportedly interested. Instead, the former Sevilla man headed to the Nerazzurri after speaking to France international teammate Evra, 34, who joined Juve from Manchester United last summer. "I talked to Pat," he said. "We didn't talk about Inter, but about Italy and what it could bring me. "That played a big role. He told me that once you've experienced the Italian league, nothing else impresses you. He told me that you improve in every area. "Training sessions are harder in Italy. As a result of that, everything is easier. A lot of players have gone to the Italian league and then burst onto centre stage afterwards. There was Zizou [Zidane], [Thierry] Henry. "If you take the case of Paul Pogba, you know that if he goes to another league, he's going to adapt."

Juventus Sell Out Season Ticket Allocation http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/07/juventus-sell-out-season-ticket-allocation/? Jul 14, 2015 Juventus have sold their full allocation of season tickets ahead of the new 2015/16 Serie A campaign. The Bianconeri will compete with the backing of 28,000 season ticket holders during home fixtures at the Juventus Stadium in Turin next season following the sale of all remaining seats available on the first day of general sale. The Lega Serie A has confirmed next season’s Serie A fixture list will be announced on July 28. The complete schedule of Serie A 2015/16 fixtures will be presented at the Expo in Milan and will include newly promoted Bologna, Carpi and Frosinone, with the season set to get underway on the weekend of 22 and 23 August. This season’s winter break will comprise of the weekends of December 27 and January 3 while the season will draw to a close on May 15. Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus outfit will start the new season as favourites to claim a fifth straight Scudetto.

Sami Khedira could make an Andrea Pirlo-like impact at Juventus http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/7/14/8936573/juventus-sami-khedira-andrea-pirlo-max-allegri-serie-a-transfers-redemption Jul 14, 2015 Once again, Paulo Dybala showed some great close control to get past the onrushing Nigel de Jong, before placing a perfectly-weighted through ball to meet Sami Khedira’s run behind the defence and the German finished the action with an unstoppable shot that went in off the far post. With just six minutes left to play, the goal was all Juventus needed to seal the 2-1 victory at the San Siro, regaining the lead at the top of the Serie A table, two points ahead of Milan and four ahead of Roma, with three more games left in the current campaign. Khedira, who stepped into the starting XI in the place of the suspended Paul Pogba, was named Man of the Match for an impeccable defensive performance, crowned with scoring the winning goal so late in the game. It was just one of the many other similar strong displays the former Real Madrid man put in throughout the season, helping Juventus move closer to a fifth consecutive Serie A title and also reaching the semifinals of the Champions League. Quite the scenario, if it wasn’t for a tiny but not-to-be-neglected setback. Last season, Khedira spent a total of 112 days on the sidelines with injuries — either thigh muscle strains or ankle injuries. If my maths were just a bit worse than they are now, I would say that represents exactly a third of a year. Not quite but, nonetheless, it still is a heck of a long time, considering the fact that his season started later than usually, as he played an important part in Germany’s successful World Cup campaign in the summer of 2014. All these troublesome periods, combined with other times when Carlo Ancelotti would just ignore Khedira and leave him out of the match day squad, resulted in the new bianconero man starting just four games for Real Madrid last season. Prior to the World Cup, Khedira had also been away from the pitch for another six months with an MCL knee ligament injury. On the plus side, based on his performances during the tournament in Brazil, there was hardly any hint the German midfielder had spent more than half of his season at the gym, doing physiotherapy, instead of kicking the ball around on the pitch. The injury nightmare that followed after the World Cup and went on throughout the last season might have little to do with the serious knee injury sustained at the end of 2013, but it still is hard not to link them together. Khedira’s injury-proneness started with that damned friendly against Italy at the San Siro — hence the stadium choice for the fantasy script — and the question is: will it continue for the next year? Although every single juventino hopes the answer is "NO! YOU MENTAL!?" it is hard to predict. Khedira is only 28, so theoretically, his body should still have the required strength to fully overcome these problems. In addition, the German’s career prior to November 2013 hasn’t been marred by too many injuries, Khedira playing around 40 games in each of his seasons for Stuttgart and Real Madrid. And that is encouraging. What is also needed to be kept into account is his psychological state. After suffering that knee injury in early 2014, it took Arturo Vidal almost a year to finally be playing football with the same intensity and of the same quality he used to — despite the fact he was physically 100 percent fit. There is little to stop Khedira from finding himself in a similar position with the one Vidal was in. But that "little" is important and, in this case, it has to do with the change of environment. The new challenge that represents moving to Serie A, to a club that aims for the fifth consecutive league title, while also hoping to build on the recent appearance in the Champions League final, could be the catalyst Khedira needed. In some ways, it is not far away from Andrea Pirlo’s situation of 2011: 32 years of age, deemed surplus to requirements and shunned out of Milan’s squad, before joining Juventus and writing history. After his recent difficulties, Khedira could manage a similar feat and become a key man in bianconero. Vidal and Pogba are expected to keep their places in the starting lineup and the Pirlo role should nicely be played by Claudio Marchisio, completing the line of three midfielders, but the German midfielder will be the top backup for any of those when the circumstances impose. All this, of course, if there will be somebody else than Vidal playing behind the strikers in Max Allegri’s preferred 4-3-1-2 system. Regardless of the formation deployed by Allegri, giving his immense experience and proved quality, Khedira will no doubt be a major part of the upcoming season. If fully fit and with the right state of mind, he will have the power to influence Juvenuts’ game to an extent close to Pirlo’s level — just how big an impact, it remain to be seen. Truth is, Beppe Marotta might just have struck gold once again with the free transfer of Khedira.

Pogba for €80m is absurd - Cruyff The legendary Dutchman is baffled by the high price that Barcelona reportedly saw rejected when they bid for the Juventus midfielder. http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2015/07/14/13582082/-? Jul 14, 2015 Barcelona legend Johann Cruyff has branded the €80 million fee reportedly rejected by Juventus for Paul Pogba "absurd". The midfielder, 21, has been one of the most highly-sought players in the world this summer, with Barca among a crowd of cash-rich clubs such as Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain also pursuing him. However, Juve rejected Barca's first bid for Pogba and all signs are that coach Massimiliano Allegri will have the France international for at least one more season in Turin. Dutch legend Cruyff, who played and coached at Camp Nou, expressed his bemusement at Pogba's pricetag and lamented the way that producing players within Barca's youth set-up appears to have been cast aside. "The Pogba figures being bandied about are absurd. €80 million for Pogba is absurd," he told Cadena Cope. "In the past, Barca produced top players such as Xavi, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta who did not cost the club anything, and that has been lost." Barca's transfer activity this summer rests on the result of this Saturday's presidential election results, with Josep Maria Bartomeu and Joan Laporta the two favourites.

Dybala relishes Pirlo shirt http://www.football-italia.net/69198/dybala-relishes-pirlo-shirt? Jul 14, 2015 Paulo Dybala is not afraid of inheriting Andrea Pirlo and Zinedine Zidane’s 21 shirt at Juventus. “I want to follow in their footsteps.” The Argentine was presented to the media today and spoke to the official club television channel. “It’s an amazing feeling to be here wearing the shirt that I dreamed of wearing for so long,” Dybala told JTV from inside the Juventus Stadium. “I chose the shirt number 21 because it’s my age and it’s also been worn by great players such as Zidane and most recently Pirlo. “They’re players who have made history and I’d like to follow in their footsteps.” Ex-Palermo star Dybala was also impressed with his surroundings in Turin. “I was really impressed and a bit surprised the first time I played here. It was the day Juventus won the Scudetto, so it was unusual. “To see the crowd chanting my name will be an amazing feeling. I am delighted to be part of this family, to be one of them and hope to score many goals.”

Dybala: Juventus the perfect club for me The talented 21-year-old is hoping to help the Scudetto and Coppa Italia holders go one further in 2015-16 by conquering Europe. http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2015/07/14/13576762/-? Jun 14, 2015 Juventus summer signing Paulo Dybala believes he has joined the "perfect club" to start racking up silverware. The 21-year-old Argentine excelled at Palermo in 2014-15, triggering a race between top European clubs to secure his long-term future. Massimiliano Allegri's Serie A champions came out on top in the pursuit, tying him down to a five-year deal, and the €32 million forward expressed his delight at his official unveiling on Tuesday. "Playing for a great club like Juventus represents an important step for me," he told reporters. "The first-team competition here means you can never ease off, which is a motivation and keeps you on your toes. "It's the perfect club to start winning things in my career. I’ve been here a couple of days and it’s a big change for me. I hope I’m able to develop into a top player here." The Bianconeri are currently on a four-season Scudetto streak and won the Coppa Italia for the first time in 20 years in May, though Dybala has his sights set on going one better than the European runners-up medal Juve picked up last month. "Last year Juventus enjoyed a great season," he added. "It’s a pity that they could not win the Champions League, but I think the club can go one step further this campaign. "We all must be ready to play, we have three trophies to fight for and a Super Cup on the horizon. Serie A will be difficult this year, but we've got a strong squad and can repeat last season's exploits."

Juventus summer signee Paulo Dybala says he will wear No. 21 this upcoming season http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/7/14/8957447/juventus-paulo-dybala-introductory-press-conference-shirt-number Jul 14, 2015 Monday was the day for Paulo Dybala to wear Juventus' new adidas training gear for the first time as he ran laps and went through drills with two of his new teammates, Sami Khedira and Simone Zaza. Come Tuesday, it was the day for Dybala, Juventus' big-money summer signing from Palermo, to receive even more gear, as well as meet the press for the first time in bianconero. Maybe the biggest news to come out of the 16-minute press conference was what number Dybala will be wearing during his debut season with Juventus. Instead of telling you what it is (if you haven't read the headline already), why don't you just go ahead and look at Dybala holding up his new jersey after the final question was asked and then answered at his introductory press conference. Yep, that's No. 21 that was recent vacated by Andrea Pirlo after he traded in his Juventus jersey for one that's nothing but blue and sports a New York City FC badge on it. That's the same No. 21 that another one of the best players in Juventus' history, Zinedine Zidane, wore during his time in Turin. It's a number that certainly has a lot of history behind it, so good luck, kid. Paulo, a simple question for you: Why did you choose the squad number you chose? JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@PauDybala_JR: "I will wear the number 21 shirt. It's my age and a number I like." That's a pretty simple enough answer to a simple question. And seeing as he played this past season in Italy, it would be virtually impossible for Dybala to not know who wore the No. 21 before him. There's the possible snowball effect of Dybala choosing the number he did. Some thought he might go with No. 7 now that it's available after Simone Pepe's contract expired at the end of June. Instead, that could mean it's free for Simone Zaza to take if he so pleases. Mario Mandzukic is rumored to be in line for the No. 17, which give us plenty of feelings since a striker hasn't worn said number since David Trezeguet left the club. (Don't you dare say Nicklas Bendtner, people.) And we're soon to find out what number Sami Khedira will take when he has his own press conference on Wednesday afternoon. Of course, there was more than just jersey numbers discussed at Dybala's first press conference as a Juventus player. There were questions about why he chose to sign with Juventus so quickly, who his influences were as a player while he grew up in Argentina, the usual stuff and things of that nature. But he was also asked about where he prefers to play on the field, which makes a lot of sense since Juventus' strike force outside of Kingsley Coman and Álvaro Morata are completely new this upcoming season. JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@PauDybala_JR: "Do I prefer playing behind the strikers? Not necessarily, I'm also comfortable up top and ready to play where I'm asked to" JuventusFC ✔@juventusfcen .@PauDybala_JR: "I’ll need to speak to the boss as regards my position. I’ve played as an attacking midfielder and up top. It’s down to him" Let the Dybala-trequartista talk only intensify after this round of questions. Not that having a versatile striker is the worst thing in the world. That's especially true when you've dropped €32 million — and potentially another €8 million — on a player you likely envision your club building around in both the present and future.

Dybala ‘ready to play anywhere’ http://www.football-italia.net/69175/dybala-%E2%80%98ready-play-anywhere%E2%80%99? Jul 14, 2015 New Juventus striker Paulo Dybala says at his unveiling that he’s “ready to play anywhere” and has chosen the number 21 shirt. The Old Lady signed the 21-year-old from Palermo for €32m earlier this summer after he scored 13 Serie A goals last season for the Rosanero. “Serie A is a tough league, but I'll give it everything I've got and aim to keep developing as a player,” he said at a Press conference for his unveiling. “The competition for places here means you can never ease off. It's a motivation and keeps you on your toes. "Do I prefer playing behind the strikers? Not necessarily, I'm also comfortable up top and ready to play where I'm asked to. "I’ll need to speak to the boss as regards my position. I’ve played as an attacking midfielder and up top. It’s down to him. "We all need to be ready to play. We're fighting on three fronts and also have the Super Cup on the horizon. "Serie A will be tough this year. We've got a strong squad though and can repeat last season's exploits. "One of the reasons for me coming here was my desire to win. This is the perfect place for me to start doing so. "I will wear the number 21 shirt. It's my age and a number I like. "I’ve been here for two days and it’s a big change for me. I hope I’m able to develop and become a great player."