Socrates

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."

Juventus announce agreement with Boca Juniors for Carlos Tévez transfer http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/7/13/8952013/juventus-boca-juniors-carlos-tevez-guido-vadala-serie-a-transfers-2015 Jul 13, 2015 The official word that Carlos Tévez is heading back to Boca Juniors has been known for weeks now. That is, we've known Tévez is going back to Boca because Boca has told us so. But we hadn't heard any kind of official statement from Juventus, the team he had played the previous two seasons with and helped reach new heights in such a short two-year period of time. Well, until Monday we hadn't heard anything. In a thorough and rather detailed press release which might be hard to understand upon first read, Juventus has announced the details of the Tévez deal that sees the 31-year-old Argentine striker head back to where he began his career. It includes the news of a €6.5 transfer fee for Tévez, which will be offset by the option to buy four players outright in three years' time from Boca. Juventus Football Club S.p.A. announces that these agreements have been finalized with Asociación Civil Club Atlético Boca Juniors: Definitive transfer to Boca Juniors of the registration rights of the player Carlos Alberto Tevez for a consideration of € 6.5 million to be paid on 15 December 2016 in a sole installment. The disposal does not generate any significant economic effect for Juventus; Temporary acquisition by Juventus, until 30 June 2017, of the registration rights of the player Guido Nahuel Vadala for a consideration of € 3.5 million to be paid on 31 December 2016 in a sole installment. The agreement also provides Juventus the option right, to be exercised within 20 April 2017, for the definitive acquisition of the player at a price of € 9.4 million; Acquisition by Juventus of the option rights for the definitive acquisition, effective from the 2017/2018 sports season, of the registration rights of the players Rodrigo Bentancur Colman, Franco Sebastián Cristaldo and Adrián Andrés Cubas. For each option right Juventus will pay to Boca Juniors € 1 million within 31 December 2016. Juventus is entitled to exercise the option rights within 20 April 2017 at the following purchase prices: € 9.4 million for Rodrigo Bentancur Colman, € 8.2 million for Franco Sebastián Cristaldo and € 6.9 million for Adrián Andrés Cubas. There's a lot going on in that 214-word press release, so let's try and make it easy for everybody. First and foremost, Tévez will cost Boca Juniors €6.5 million and that will be paid in one installment in December 2016. That's the easiest part to figure out, and now we shall move on from it. The second bullet point involves the centerpiece of the deal from Juventus' side of the equation, 18-year-old Argentinian striker Guido Vadala. First, there's going to be an 18-month loan spell that is going to cost Juventus a €3.5 million payment to Boca Juniors on the final day of 2016. Juventus have an option to make the Vadala deal a permanent one just about five months later, which will drive the €3.5 million loan fee up to a grand total of €.9.4 million. Lastly, Juventus holds the option starting in the 2017-18 season to sign Rodrigo Bentancur Colman, Franco Sebastian Cristaldo and Adrian Andres Cubas. Each player will cost €1 million for an initial fee, with Colman costing €9.4 million, Cristaldo costing €8.2 million and Cubas costing €6.9 million. All of which would have to be paid on the same April 20, 2017, deadline as there is for Vadala. So, in terms of dollars and cents (or euros in this sense), Boca will pay Juve €6.5 million for Tévez, while there will initially be a €3.5 million fee for Vadala and €1 million fees for Colman, Cubas and Cristaldo. Essentially, €6.5 million one way, and €6.5 million the other way. Got all that? Good, good. Now we know the business side of the equation and the final details that probably took a bit of time to work out. That's the final piece to the Tévez-back-to-Boca puzzle, so now we can think of the future while also remembering the good times with Carlitos. Those were pretty good times, if you ask me.

Allegri: 'Slippery Barca eels' http://www.football-italia.net/69161/allegri-slippery-barca-eels? Jul 13, 2015 Juventus boss Max Allegri said Barcelona were “like a slippery eel” in the Champions League Final, but “if we’d believed more…” The Bianconeri were beaten 3-1 by Luis Enrique’s men, but the second goal came against the run of play and the third with the last kick of the game, so the result did not accurately reflect the match. “After the equaliser they were stunned and we were constantly getting better. My sensation was that we’d score and win at that point,” Allegri told giornalaccio rosa TV. “Unfortunately, Barcelona scored, because those three in attack are like a slippery eel. It’s just impossible to get a grip on them. “This Barcelona doesn’t keep as much possession as the older version, but above all you need to be psychologically prepared. They wear you down and you have to wait, not letting them hit you. We only did that to a degree. “I think we needed another Final to have the total confidence that we could beat them. We’d won the Scudetto a month earlier and every day we were asked questions about those three strikers. In the end that gets into your head and you convince yourself that they are unstoppable. “The big regret at the final whistle was above all that we didn’t fully believe in ourselves, because we were facing Barcelona, the strongest side in the world. “Everyone expected us to lose 3-0, instead like this it was harder to swallow.”

Khedira 'so proud of Juve' http://www.football-italia.net/69158/khedira-so-proud-juve? Jul 13, 2015 Sami Khedira is “so proud to play” for Juventus that he started pre-season training ahead of schedule. The former Real Madrid midfielder was at the camp in Vinovo today with fellow newcomers Simone Zaza and Paulo Dybala, even though they weren’t expected until July 20. “I feel very happy. I’m very excited, I can’t wait to see all the teammates over the next two days and also to see the training centre. I’ll be happy to start with my new club Juventus. “Juventus is a big honour. It’s a new step in my career and I’m so proud to play for this big club with a big history. I’d like to have big success with this club. “I am happy to be a new part of this club, this big family. Over the next four years I hope to win all the championships, all the titles and together we are very strong.” Kwadwo Asamoah and Martin Caceres were also training at Vinovo today.

Barca candidates differ on Pogba http://www.football-italia.net/69147/barca-candidates-differ-pogba? Jul 13, 2015 Barcelona Presidential candidates Josep Maria Bartomeu and Joan Laporta declare different plans for Juventus star Paul Pogba. The race for the top spot at Camp Nou is on and both main candidates are using Pogba as a tool to fire up the fans. Bartomeu told Cadena Cope that pursuit of the midfielder was unnecessary. “Pogba is not a priority, even though we cannot predict the future. In any case, Luis Enrique has not asked for the player.” As for Laporta, he remains adamant that he’s the right man to bring Pogba to the Blaugrana. “Yes, we are interested in Pogba and if I become President of Barcelona, then we’ll go for him. Without doubt he’s on the list. “The key to his transfer is agent Mino Raiola, nobody else.” Juventus have said Pogba is not for sale unless someone meets the €100m price-tag.

Tevez: 'Juve got my desire back' http://www.football-italia.net/69143/tevez-juve-got-my-desire-back? Jul 13, 2015 Carlos Tevez wrote an open letter to Juventus after the move to Boca Juniors. “You gave back my desire to play football.” The transfer was finalised today with a complex set of options for various players included in the deal. “Juventini!” wrote Carlitos on his official Twitter account. “From the first day I arrived in Turin, I felt at home and you immediately gave back my desire to play football. “I have only words of appreciation. I took this decision to go back to my country so that I could have my whole family reunited around me. “It was not easy, because I leave behind friends, teammates and a club that made me very happy. Thank you for all the battles, won and lost. I learned a lot thanks to all of you. “You will always be in my heart. Apache!!!!”

Juventus Say Goodbye to Carlos Tevez with Goal-Packed Tribute Video http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2521773-juventus-say-goodbye-to-carlos-tevez-with-goal-packed-tribute-video? Jul 13, 2015 With Carlos Tevez returning to his first club, Boca Juniors, after two seasons with Juventus, the Turin side have released a video thanking the Argentinian striker for his services to the club. Tevez scored 50 goals in 96 games for Juventus, winning two Serie A titles, the Supercoppa Italiana and the Coppa Italia, as well as helping them to the 2014/15 Champions League final. Juve have acted quickly in replacing the forward, signing Croatian Mario Mandzukic from Atletico Madrid.

Juve confirm Tevez details http://www.football-italia.net/69137/juve-confirm-tevez-details? Jul 13, 2015 Juventus have confirmed the financial details as Carlos Tevez completes his transfer to Boca Juniors, including options on four players. The complex deal has a number of points to it, listed in a statement released by the Bianconeri. Definitive transfer to Boca Juniors of the registration rights of Carlos Tevez for €6.5m to be paid on December 15 2016 in a sole instalment. The disposal does not generate any significant economic effect for Juventus Temporary acquisition by Juventus, until June 30 2017, of player Guido Nahuel Vadala for €3.5m to be paid on December 31 2016 in a sole instalment. The agreement also provides Juventus the open right, to be exercised within April 20 2017, for the definitive acquisition of the player at a price of €9.4m. Acquisition of Juventus of the option rights to the definitive acquisition, effective from the 2017-18 sports season, of the registration rights of the players Rodrigo Bentancur Colman, Franco Sebastian Cristaldo and Adrian Andres Cubas. For each option right, Juventus will pay Boca Juniors €1m within December 31 2016. Juventus is entitled to exercise the option rights within April 20 2017 at the following purchase prices: €9.4m for Rodrigo Bentancur Colman, €8.2m for Franco Sebastian Cristaldo and €6.9m for Adrian Andres Cubas.

Breaking Down What Former Real Madrid Man Sami Khedira Will Bring to Juventus http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2521128-breaking-down-what-former-real-madrid-man-sami-khedira-will-bring-to-juventus? Jul 13, 2015 There is little doubt that this summer began superbly for Juventus supporters, with the signings of Paulo Dybala, Sami Khedira and Mario Mandzukic confirmed almost immediately following the team’s return from the Champions League final in Berlin. Given that the Bianconeri had also sealed their first domestic double in 20 years, it came as something of a blow when the departure of two hugely important players was then subsequently reported. Losing Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez is a major blow, a matter discussed in depth in this previous column and one which those new arrivals must strive to overcome. Yet their exits should not take away from the sheer quality of the men signed to replace them, and there are many parallels between the paths Khedira and Pirlo took to Turin. Both tasted World Cup and Champions League glory, and each signed for Italian football’s grand Old Lady on a free transfer after being marginalised by their former clubs. Though each interprets it in a vastly different manner, they play a similar role, and the presence of Khedira—if he can maintain his fitness—will allow Massimiliano Allegri to play a rather different and more up-tempo style of football should he so wish. Pirlo too suffered with injury last term, and in his absence the Juventus coach opted to play Claudio Marchisio in the deep-lying central-midfield role with which the bearded genius is so synonymous. Clearly lacking the same vision, Marchisio instead applied his incredible tactical awareness, making the right pass almost every time, shielding the defence superbly and with remarkable consistency. Allegri may opt to continue with that, but he could also opt to field Khedira in the middle and return Marchisio to a more advanced role. Freed from the need to drop deep to protect Pirlo—as he was increasingly forced to do over the past two seasons—would allow the Turin native to return to being the devastating attacking force he was previously. When healthy and in-form, Khedira of course is able to do so much more and it will be up to the coaching staff to recognise when and how to use him, not just for his benefit but for the team overall. While it may curb his own input to the attack, having the German international at the base of midfield would mean Allegri could field any combination of players ahead of him, safe in the knowledge that the 28-year-old is there to mop up any mistakes. OptaPaolo ✔@OptaPaolo 165-Khedira made 165 tackles in La Liga, only X.Alonso made more among R. Madrid midfielders in this period.Official. Fully capable of pushing forward himself, this would appear to be the best position for him in the current Juve squad, allowing Marchisio—as well as Paul Pogba, Arturo Vidal and Roberto Pereyra—to maximise their own contributions. While Khedira cannot replace the creativity Pirlo brought to the side, he may also fulfil the Italian’s role as an experienced leader, something that cannot be quantified in statistics but is every inch as valuable as a perfectly timed assist or precisely delivered set piece. “He's a leader – a silent leader, but one who knows how to carry his team through difficult moments,” Juve’s Leonardo Bonucci told the official UEFA website last year. “Outside of football, he's a great man and he's been one of the best central midfielders in the world in the history of football.” Khedira too is held in the highest esteem, with none other than Franz Beckenbauer having publicly expressed his admiration for the player. "He has become a true leader at Real Madrid. Few players have that talent these days,” he told Spanish newspaper Marca. "The fans demand that all players play like Messi, but there's only one Messi,” he continued. “Khedira is the kind of player who always sacrifices himself for the team, but players like him are a rare commodity these days.” “It is my personal ambition to become a leader for this team,” Khedira told As (h/t Forza Italian Football), and if he can do that while returning to prominence on the pitch, Juventus could begin to dream of replicating last year’s success.