Socrates

Arrigo Sacchi: Barcelona would be 'almost invincible' with Paul Pogba http://www.espnfc.co.uk/story/2509835/arrigo-sacchi-barcelona-would-be-invincible-with-pogba? Jul 1, 2015 Legendary Italian manager Arrigo Sacchi believes Barcelona will be almost invincible if Paul Pogba eventually joins the team from Juventus. Pogba, 22, is the most sought after player in Europe but is under contract with Juve until June 2019. However there is speculation in both Spain and Italy that the French midfielder will join Barcelona after the 2015-16 season and Sacchi believes that his signing would make the Catalan side unstoppable. "His potential is enormous," Sacchi said in an interview with Barcelona-based publication El Mundo Deportivo. "He is a player who is improving but at 22 , he is very interesting for any club. If Barca already has a fantastic team now, it would be even more so. With the attacking trio (Neymar, Leo Messi, Luis Suarez) and Pogba on the pitch, Barca would be almost invincible." Having joined Juve on a free transfer from Manchester United in 2012, Pogba was an important member of a Juve side that won a Serie A and Coppa Italia double this season, as well as reaching the final of the Champions League. "He has everything to define an era," Sacchi said. "He is like Frank Rijkaard, whom I coached at AC Milan, because of his technique, his strength, his sense of play. Like Frank, he is very powerful on the pitch. I believe that Pogba has even more of a huge offensive projection." Pogba played in his first World Cup in Brazil last year and was named as the Best Young Player of the tournament as France made it to the quarterfinals before losing to eventual winners Germany. Sacchi, who once coached Atletico Madrid and also served as Real Madrid's director of football, said: "In Spain he would score more goals. He is a player for any club but to play at Barca would be much simpler for Pogba for the style of football that he plays. "I would see him playing as a midfielder on the right like Rakitic or on the left like Iniesta but not as a central midfielder. Half of Europe longs for him." A move away from Juve would allow Pogba to scale new heights as a player, according to the 69-year-old. "It's clear that outside of Juventus he can reach a different level," Sacchi added. "The best thing about Pogba is that he still has room to improve. "It depends on him but he certainly has the conditions to be great. You need passion and motivation for the game but you also need talent. He has the latter but he must maintain the passion. I know what he is like and even though he is young, he is quite focused." Juve have already warned Pogba's potential suitors that the player will not leave Turin for less than €80million. "I'm not going to discuss that (figure)," Sacchi said. "What I will say is that he is the biggest reality of world football. The team that does take him will make a big leap in quality."

'Pogba's future? Juventus waiting until after Barcelona presidential elections' Presidential candidate Agusti Benedito claims that the Serie A club will not make a decision over the France international midfielder's possible exit until after July 18. http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2015/07/01/13205602/-? Jul 1, 2015 Barcelona presidential candidate Agusti Benedito has suggested that Juventus will not make a decision over Paul Pogba's future until after the the Catalan club's elections. Benedito is standing against the likes of Joan Laporta and Josep Bartomeu in a bid to become Barca's new president, with the elections due to take place on July 18. The 51-year-old claimed earlier in June that he could strike a €80 million (£56.7m) deal for Pogba and now adds that Juventus are waiting until the outcome of the elections before deciding on the France international's future. "We wanted to talk to Juventus and they warned me Pogba would cost €80m and he already had a €12m per season offer from PSG. We thought he was not a priority," Benedito told the press. "Juventus will wait until the president is finally chosen." Benedito also reiterated that he is not willing to hinge his presidential campaign on a potentially record deal for Pogba. He added: "Pogba is a €200m investment. "This kind of move would break the elections' Fair Play. It would not be legitimate and it would be the most severe act in the club's electoral process."

Juventus' new 2015-16 adidas jerseys have officially arrived http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/7/1/8875999/juventus-2015-16-kits-adidas Jul 1, 2015 When Juventus announced its new six-year deal with adidas for around €140 million back in late October, the understandable first thing we noticed was the kind of financial impact it will have. That's a nice chunk of change and a step in the right direction when you consider the long-standing deal with Nike that came to an end. But there's another important factor in all of this, and it's a pretty easy one to figure out — what they're going to look like. From the day the deal was announced, Juventus and adidas seemed like a pretty good match. They both like stripes on their clothing, they both like things with black and white color schemes, and it's not the first time adidas would be utilizing those two colors together. The first day in July has brought us a new Juventus website, a new look to the squad as contracts have expired and new players officially begin their careers in Turin and, most importantly when it comes to this, the beginning of the adidas era at Juventus. That means we get to check out what our favorite players in bianconero will be wearing come next season. Tarek Khatib @ADP1113 Home, Away & GK. Well.... I don't know. Maybe I thought the first run of kits would be adidas trying to make a really, really good impression. The home kit is nice, and it always seems to look better once we actually see it in action on the field in the first couple of friendlies and regular-season games. And the most noticeable addition to the home jersey besides the obvious Scudetto and Coppa Italia badges? Not one, not two, but three stars right above the Juventus crest. See, not so bad. I can live with it. (Side note: We knew there was going to be no silver star to signify 10 Coppas because a certain Juventus President by the name of Andrea Agnelli told us so after the season came to an end. So as much as it would have been nice to see three gold stars as well as a silver one, it's not like this is something that can be considered a surprise to anybody.) But that away kit...oh my goodness. Where to begin? I guess the good thing is that it's the away kit and won't be worn unless it's totally necessary. But yeah, it's not something that comes close to the pink kits we've seen Juventus wear over the last decade or two. I'd say the keeper kit has potential. Consider the fact that Gigi Buffon makes just about any keeper kit look good because he's a badass, so there's hope for it. Silver and black work well together, which means there won't be any kind of loud of obnoxious colors being worn by our beloved captain next season. Then again, I'm no fashion expert and wore basketball shoes with my khakis to work yesterday, so what do I know. (But they're adidas shoes, so I guess I get some bonus points, right).

Paul Pogba's Next Club Betting: Barcelona and Manchester City lead the market The Juventus star could be the big move of this summer transfer window, with La Liga or the Premier League look like his most probable destinantions according to the odds. http://www.goal.com/en/news/2994/betting/2015/07/01/13194142/paul-pogbas-next-club-betting-barcelona-and-manchester-city-lead-?ICID=TP_TNM_ART_3 Jul 1, 2015 If the Catalan sports dailies are to believed, a deal to take Paul Pogba to Camp Nou is practically sealed, with the Frenchman likely to join Barcelona next summer. The European champions reportedly moved into pole position to claim the coveted signature a couple of months ago and they remain as favorites in Paddy Power's book on Pogba's next club, with Barcelona offered at to be his next destination. In fact, Barcelona are joint favourites to sign Pogba with Manchester City offered at the same price to be the French international's new club. Juventus have insisted that they do not need to sell, and that the player himself is happy in Turin, but both City and Barcelona would be able to, at the very least, double his current wages. Indeed, most of the clubs in the market for him could make Pogba considerably wealthier than he already is, although little has been heard of the richest club in the world, Real Madrid, in terms of any interest. Los Blancos are priced at just behind Chelsea who are reportedly ready to offer members of their talented squad as part of a deal to tempt Juventus into selling. The Premier League champions are shots to sign Pogba, with French champions PSG available at . Manchester United meanwhile also have the financial clout to prepare a bid big enough to bring the midfielder back to Old Trafford after letting him leave in 2012 after making just a handful of appearances, but currently the Red Devils' interest in the transfer market seems to lie elsewhere. Should the attempts to bring in a big name defender fail, United may turn their attentions to Pogba, and the price of may start to look tempting.

Barcelona arrive for Pogba http://www.football-italia.net/68537/barcelona-arrive-pogba? Jul 1, 2015 Barcelona and Juventus will reportedly meet again today to discuss the sale of Paul Pogba, with an €80m bid expected. La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport has reported that Juventus director general Beppe Marotta will meet Barca directors Ariedo Braida and Alberto Soler today, with the Spanish club expected to present a base offer of €80m. Spanish outlet Sport believes that Pogba’s agent Mino Raiola has requested a salary worth €12m per season, the same figure reportedly offered by Manchester City. This wage would make the France international the second-highest paid player in the Catalans’ squad, only behind Lionel Messi. Should the transfer go ahead, Pogba will remain in Turin for another season and join Barcelona for the 2016/17 season due to their current transfer embargo.

Llorente offered to Milan? http://www.football-italia.net/68536/llorente-offered-milan? Jul 1, 2015 Reports suggest that Juventus striker Fernando Llorente’s representatives have offered the player to Milan. Tuttosport believe that the 30-year-old has been looking for a way out from the Old Lady, despite having two years remaining on his €4.5m per season deal in Turin. The newspaper reports that the Spaniard is looking to play with more continuity after losing his place last season to compatriot Alvaro Morata, and that Milan were approached by his representatives. Milan were reportedly encouraging of the suggestion, but have opted not to progress further at the moment as their attention is focused on re-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Wolfsburg, Monaco and Tottenham Hotspur are believed to be amongst the other clubs considering a move for the striker, who scored 7 Serie A goals last season.

Pogba Is Worth €90 Million Says Barcelona Presidential Candidate http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/06/pogba-is-worth-e90-million-says-barcelona-presidential-candidate/? Jun 30, 2015 Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta believes €90 million is the right amount should the Catalans buy Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. Pogba has been the subject of intense transfer speculation this summer with Manchester City, PSG and Real Madrid all said to be keen on the 22-year-old, though the Blaugrana are seen as favourites to land the Frenchman. “Pogba is the player we [barcelona] want,” Laporta told Radio Cadena Cope, “ and the key is [Pogba’s agent] Mino Raiola, with whom I have a great relationship. “He is a player we have already decided to buy, as long as Juve agree to sell him to Barca. “It is very hard to sign him, as there are many clubs also after him as he is of the highest quality. “Many players could come to Barcelona, but Pogba is the player we want most. But I don’t think Juve will do any business until a new [barcelona] president is elected. “Looking at the market and seeing how much is paid for other players, I think €80-90m is the right amount for him [Pogba].” Barcelona’s presidential election takes place on July 18.

Pogba out for defensive upgrade? http://www.football-italia.net/68495/pogba-out-defensive-upgrade? Jun 30, 2015 Juventus are reportedly considering letting Paul Pogba leave for Barcelona next summer in order to rejuvenate their defence. The two clubs held a dinner meeting on Sunday and La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport believe that the Old Lady favour a sale to Barca next summer over an immediate departure to Chelsea or Manchester City. According to Sport, the three offers on the table are €80m plus €10m of bonuses from Barcelona for next summer, €100m from Manchester City and €50m plus Oscar from Chelsea. giornalaccio rosa believe the Bianconeri would look to invest the money raised by the sale of Pogba on bids for the likes of Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Silva and Diego Godin of Atletico Madrid. Juve are also believed to be keen on Monaco duo Aymen Abdennour and Layvin Kurzawa, while Porto’s Alex Sandro, Udinese’s Silvan Widmer, Zenit’s Ezequiel Garay and Medhi Benatia of Bayern Munich are also reported targets.

Real Madrid Transfer News: Leonardo Bonucci Bid Readied http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2510607-real-madrid-transfer-news-leonardo-bonucci-bid-readied-latest-on-isco-rumours? Jun 30, 2015 Juventus’ hopes of extending Leonardo Bonucci’s stay in Turin may be scuppered by interest from Real Madrid, who reportedly see the Bianconeri star as a potential replacement for Sergio Ramos. That’s according to Tuttosport (h/t AS), which wrote that Los Blancos would be willing to offer €30 million to land the Italy international and double the defender’s current annual salary, which currently stands at €2 million. Bonucci's current contract with Juve runs until 2017. The piece also claims that new Madrid boss Rafa Benitez has cited Bonucci as a player who could potentially fill the void left by Ramos, should the defensive talisman decide to move to the Premier League this summer. As noted by WhoScored.com earlier in the season, there’s nothing overly flashy when it comes to the Juventus centre-back: WhoScored.com ✔@WhoScored Raphael Varane: Only Leonardo Bonucci (73) has made more clearances in the CL this season than Varane (72) They’re traits which will have surely endeared Benitez, a renowned pragmatist, to the defender. While Real are synonymous with offensive flair and fluid forward play, their new manager will be desperate to add some steel to a side that were a little ropey at the back last season. In addition to Bonucci’s uncompromising defensive style, he’s a player that’s technically sound too. The Italian is a composed figure, capable of bringing the ball out from the back and playing short, incisive balls into midfield. It’s these kinds of abilities that have made the Italian such a fine foil for the rugged traits of Giorgio Chiellini at the heart of the Bianconeri back line.

Juventus Ponder Player Exchange With Tottenham Hotspur http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/06/juventus-ponder-player-exchange-with-tottenham-hotspur/? Jun 30, 2015 Juventus could add striker Fernando Llorente to a deal which would bring Tottenham Hotspur’s Erik Lamela to Serie A. The Bianconeri frontman looks set to leave the Juventus Stadium following the acquisitions of Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala and Simone Zaza by the club, while coach Massimiliano Allegri is looking to add a more creative forward to his forward line. With Tottenham said to be interested in Llorente, Sky Sport Italia have suggested that Juve could add cash plus the 30-year-old Spaniard in a bid to snatch Lamela from the Premier League side. Lamela has endured a tough time since his €30 million move from Roma to Spurs in 2013, and managed just six goals in 45 appearances last season. Meanwhile, Llorente bagged seven goals in 31 Serie A games.

Juventus 2014-15 Season Ratings: The Strikers http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/6/30/8856737/juventus-2014-15-season-ratings-the-strikers-tevez-morata-llorente-matri-coman Jun 30, 2015 Leaving aside Max Allegri’s phenomenal ability of conveying his tactical ideas in the game of every single player who wore the Bianconeri colours this season, the main reason for Juventus’ surge towards a fourth consecutive Scudetto, the long-awaited 10th Coppa Italia and the Champions League final in Berlin was probably the force of the group — the way in which, through dedication and hard work, Juventus functioned as a family. In order to compete at the very top level, however, football will require a fair amount of moments of individual brilliance. The difference between two great teams rigorously prepared tactically will be made in a fraction of a second by a long-range screamer, a sublime through ball to break the defence or a dazzling piece of skill just inside the area, finished off with a goal. This writer will have to concede, despite his fondness for teamwork and defending, that those are the moments with the greater power of leaving a mark on the memory of tifosi all around the world. Alessandro Del Piero’s superb last minute first-time volley against Fiorentina in 1994 , his doppietta at the Santiago Bernabeu, Pavel Nedved’s masterfully-placed strike with the outside of his boot against Ajax, or — perhaps surprisingly for some but of the utmost importance — Alessandro Birindelli’s perfect cross for Marcelo Zalayeta’s extra-time winner at the Camp Nou. This campaign made no exception and such wonderful moments seasoned the journey to make it truly unforgettable. And in the majority of the cases, the strikers were to be blamed for the sudden jolts of adrenaline the supporters received. If Serie A was a long road in which everyone had their say, the knock-out stages of the Coppa and especially the Champions League were the parts in which individuals stood out. Carlos Tévez and Alvaro Morata scored nine of Juventus’ 10 goals in the eliminatory phase of the Champions League, while Alessandro Matri was one of the main protagonists of the Coppa Italia triumph. Point is, Juventus’ attack worked. And it worked throughout the season — regardless of who played from the start. Many thanks and all that! Now, let the ratings begin. Carlos Tévez: 9 It was just like a hurricane — came out of nowhere, destroyed everything in its way, laughed in the face of mothers and babies crying, and then moved on, leaving behind damages and casualties of all sorts. The two years Tévez spent in Turin have passed in the blink of an eye but it is fantastic how much one can accomplish in such a negligible amount of time. Before you even managed to close your eyes, Tévez had already scored 19 goals in his first Serie A season — a slight improvement for Juventus from the previous 2012/13 one when top goalscorers in the league were Mirko Vucinic and Arturo Vidal with 10 goals each — 19 (NINETEEN!) behind the leader at the time Edinson Cavani. And by the time you have opened your eyelids, El Apache had already topped that performance by a goal, scored seven in the Champions League, the decisive penalty against Colombia that took Argentina in the Copa América semifinals and confirmed his move to his beloved Boca Juniors, the club where he started poaching ‘em goals as a young Carlitos. The best player of the season — and the season before — Tévez has been the epicentre of Juventus’ tormenting attacks. Never giving up and always working for the team, the Argentine was one of the players who re-established the winning DNA within the Bianconeri ranks. Any more superlatives describing his attitude and fantastic talent would be redundant. It is worth remembering, however, some of his surreal goals scored in black & white this season, like the majestic opener that silenced the Yellow Wall at the Westfalenstadion... (excuse the silly soundtrack) Alvaro Morata: 7.5 The Juventus adventure did not start brilliantly for Morata. Third–choice goalkeeper Rubinho experienced an individual career-best moment when everybody was talking only about him ... about him colliding with and injuring Morata in one of the Spaniard’s first training sessions. Almost two months on the sideline, combined with the necessity of adapting to a new culture, lifestyle, an altogether different type of football and different training methods, made it hard for the then 21-year-old to play his best football. But these issues only made Morata’s situation very similar to the one Fernando Llorente found himself in just a year before and, just like his compatriot, Morata had a terrific impact on the second part of the season, quickly developing a great attacking partnership with Tévez. Decisive goals in the Coppa Italia and Champions League made from Morata a man for big occasions, although his young age, joined by the desire to prove himself and the limited amount of playing time registered at the top level were factors for his incandescence and, sometimes, inability to negotiate situations as required — hence the several yellow and red cards. As he is just 22, Morata has the potential to be the perfect striker for many years to come and his winning mentality is proving just that. "I didn’t even take the medal. I don’t have silver medals at home," said Morata after losing the final in Berlin. The upcoming season, a duo with Paulo Dybala will be thrilling to watch. Deal with it. Fernando Llorente: 6.5 Oh, the big man, The Lion King. How very different from the prolific striker of the previous season. His usually ferocious roar was nothing more than a feeble meow of a toyger ... a toyger cat. Somehow, Llorente registered 31 games in Serie A — a surprising 25 as a starter — scoring seven goals in the process. It is worth to add two of these goals came in the 7-0 thrashing of Parma. But it wasn’t just the lack of goals or the fact that the Spaniard created a lot fewer chances for his teammates than he used to. Llorente was not himself. The lack of confidence on the pitch was something of a mystery — especially after the fantastic football played in the second part of the last season. It is hard to explain how or why a once prolific goal scorer is suddenly losing his touch. Perhaps the addition of Morata to the striking force had a negative influence on him somehow, although Llorente’s good friendship with his compatriot — and the rest of the team, in fact — was all over social media throughout the year. Despite all that, Allegri had faith in Llorente and counted on him on several occasions, in which the striker did his best — definitely not at the spring 2014 level, but decent enough for Juventus. Alessandro Matri: 6.5 Coppa Italia hero. A great man in the locker room. A part of the core group of players with a strong bond between them, who have been at the club when the Andrea Agnelli adventure started to deliver fantastic results. And a wonderful man. Matri rejoined Juventus in January on loan as a backup striker, after he has been sold to Milan in the summer of 2013 for €11 million. All in all, another great piece of business from Beppe Marotta. Making only five appearances in Serie A and two in the Champions’ League, Matri was content with his role on the bench. Even more, in the two games played in Coppa, he managed to score against Fiorentina in semi-finals and the winning goal against Lazio in extra-time of the final, to deliver the trophy in Turin. What else would you expect from him? The perfect backup. Kingsley Coman: 6 The 19-year-old Frenchman had a decent first season with Juventus, under the close tutelage of Allegri and Patrice Evra — who received a free hand from Coman’s father to discipline the youngster whenever needed. Agile, skilful and showing real pace down the wing, Coman was involved in 14 Serie A games — starting five — and in all Coppa Italia matches, excepting the final. His strike against Verona was, hopefully, a sign of things to come but right now, Coman needs more playing time than Juventus can offer.

Laporta: Barcelona will have advantage in getting Pogba The ex-Blaugrana supremo feels his relationship with Mino Raiola and Eric Abidal's friendship with the Juventus midfielder gives the Catalans the edge in attracting him. http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4682/transfer-zone/2015/06/29/13161992/-? Jun 29, 2015 Barcelona presidential candidate Joan Laporta believes his good rapport with Mino Raiola and Eric Abidal's friendship with Paul Pogba will be key to persuading the Juventus ace to move to Camp Nou. Pogba is one of the most in-demand players in world football at the moment, with Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain all interested in the midfielder. However, Laporta believes that Barca would have a clear advantage in the race to sign him should he beat Josep Maria Bartomeu to the presidency in next month's elections as he has previously done deals with Pogba's agent, Raiola. Furthermore, the former Barca supremo says that ex-France international Abidal, whom he hopes to appoint as his technical secretary, is on friendly terms with his compatriot. "We feel that the key to a potential signing of Pogba is Mino Raiola, with whom we get on with very well, both Abidal and myself," Laporta told reporters. "We carried out negotiations with him for the deals involving Maxwell and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. "Abidal also knows Pogba on a personal level and if this is something that gives the supporters confidence in our project, then, we’ll talk to Juve, as he would be a positive addition. "I haven't spoken with the player or his club as being a pre-candidate forbids me from doing so. "But there is no doubt that he would be a great signing for the club. "We’ve reviewed this with Abidal and he would fit in perfectly with our style and give us added quality and strength. "He’s a player with a unique manner of playing. It would be great to secure his signature." While Barca cannot currently register new arrivals on account of their Fifa-imposed transfer ban, they can sign players this summer and then field them from the start of 2016 onwards.

Ambrosini: Dybala a great deal for Juventus The Italian champions could end up paying as much as €40 million for the 21-year-old but the ex-Italy international says the Argentine is worth every cent. http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4682/transfer-zone/2015/06/29/13158972/-? Jun 29, 2015 Massimo Ambrosini believes that Juventus have pulled off a major coup in signing Paulo Dybala, admitting that he has been "mad about" the striker since he first saw him play in Serie B. The Bianconeri agreed to pay Palermo €32 million for the 21-year-old Dybala but that figure could eventually rise to €40m. It is a huge fee for a player who only has one full season of Serie A football behind him, during which he managed just 13 goals in 36 appearances, but Ambrosini believes that Juve have got themselves a bargain. "I was crazy about Dybala right away, from when he was in the second division," the former Italy international told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "This is a real player and Juve had done a great deal."

Laporta: 'Raiola key to Pogba' http://www.football-italia.net/68467/laporta-raiola-key-pogba? Jun 29, 2015 Barcelona Presidential candidate Joan Laporta said “the key” to Paul Pogba’s transfer from Juventus is agent Mino Raiola. The midfielder is increasingly being used as a political pawn in the run-up to the elections on June 18, as candidates declare their intended targets. “We believe the key to Pogba’s transfer is Raiola,” Laporta told Spanish newspaper As. “I have a good rapport with Raiola and so does Eric Abidal. Let’s not forget Abidal knows Pogba personally. “So far I haven’t spoken to Juve or the player, because as a candidate I cannot do that. What I can say is that Pogba would perfectly suit our style of football and can add his technique and strength to the squad. “He is a player you cannot be indifferent to and has huge potential in terms of image.”

Pogba Demands Wages On Par With Messi To Join Barcelona http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/06/juventus-star-demands-wages-on-par-with-messi-to-join-barcelona/? Jun 29, 2015 Juventus star Paul Pogba would be asking for king’s ransom from Barcelona, before agreeing to join the Catalan giants. Negotiations between both Juventus and Barcelona were put on hold, and that despite Barcelona sporting director Ariedo Braida having traveled to Turin to discuss a deal in person. Spanish media Cadena Ser now report that Pogba would have asked for a colossal €12 million net per season in wages, a request Barcelona would be unwilling to fulfill. With the Catalan giants only awarding such important sums of money to the likes of Lionel Messi, the negotiations with Pogba would have come to a halt.

'I wouldn't break the bank for Pogba,' reveals Barcelona presidential candidate Benedito The 51-year-old Catalan has previously claimed he could do an €80 million deal for the Frenchman but has now hinted he is reluctant to go any higher. http://www.goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2015/06/29/13151912/-? Jun 29, 2015 Agusti Benedito says he would not break the bank to sign Juventus ace Paul Pogba were he to become Barcelona president. The 51-year-old claimed earlier this month that he had already spoken to both the Bianconeri and the France international about a move to Camp Nou, revealing that the Old Lady want €80 million for the midfielder, who would receive €12m per annum after tax. However, with Real Madrid, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain also interested in Pogba, Benedito has now suggested ahead of next month's presidential elections that he would not be willing to get involved in a bidding war. "I would not ask the Barca members to take any decision outside the ordinary operations of the club," the Catalan is quoted as saying by Marca. "We would not break the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. We cannot do deals of €200m." Benedito also promised greater transparency in terms of Barcelona's transfer dealings, in light of the fact that the acquisition of Neymar in 2013 led to a legal investigation into tax evasion and prompted the resignation of former Barca president Sandro Rosell so that he could concentrate on clearing his name in the courts. "Every Brazilian operation is such a serious matter that they have to be done well," he added. "This was bad for the club as it was not done correctly and now we are paying dramatic consequences.

Manchester City And Chelsea To Hijack Juventus-Barcelona’s Pogba Deal http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/06/manchester-city-and-chelsea-to-hijack-juventus-barcelonas-pogba-deal/? Jun 29, 2015 Barcelona would have finally highlighted the details of the deal that would take Paul Pogba out of Juventus, but with Manchester City and Chelsea eying a late swoop. Pogba has been the subject of much interest, especially from Barcelona. The new Blaugrana sporting director Ariedo Braida had already traveled to Italy to accelerate negotiations. Barcelona would be preparing a €90 million bid for Pogba, according to Catalan media Sport and Mundo Deportivo. The Blaugrana would pay €80 million and an additional €10 million in bonuses. Of course, the deal would see Pogba only join in 2016, with Barcelona still under a transfer ban. The Catalan media report however that Chelsea and Manchester City would be ready to come in late to capture Pogba’s signature. The Blues in particular, would be ready to offer Oscar as part of the deal. Manchester City, on their part, would be offering a little less than €100 million and a €220,000 per week deal to the player, according to the Mirror.

Laporta: ‘No Pogba talks’ http://www.football-italia.net/68447/laporta-%E2%80%98no-pogba-talks%E2%80%99? Jun 29, 2015 Barcelona Presidential candidate Joan Laporta reiterates that Paul Pogba would be ‘perfect’, but hasn’t spoken to Juventus. It has been suggested that the Blaugrana will meet with officials from the Old Lady in Italy this week, but Laporta reaffirms his belief that a deal will not be done before the election. “It would be good news to get Pogba before the elections,” the prospective patron said in a Press conference. “However, we don’t think Juve will sign anything before the 19th [of July]. Paul is a perfect player for Barcelona. “I haven’t talked to Juventus or Pogba, because that’s not my job.”

English interest in Asamoah http://www.football-italia.net/68434/english-interest-asamoah? Jun 29, 2015 Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly interested in Juventus’ Kwadwo Asamoah, but the Bianconeri are not keen to sell. The Ghanaian missed the second half of last season with a knee injury, making just 10 appearances across all competitions. Capable of playing at left wing-back or in central midfield, Tuttosport believes that the 26-year-old is attracting interest from the English Premier League. The sports daily reports Chelsea and Arsenal are both tracking the former Udinese man, but Juve are said to be unwilling to sell the player. The Old Lady are short of options on the left-side of defence, with 34-year-old Patrice Evra first choice in Asamoah’s absence, and Paolo De Ceglie and Angelo Ogbonna the alternatives.

Barca and Juve meet for Pogba http://www.football-italia.net/68431/barca-and-juve-meet-pogba? Jun 28, 2015 Juventus and Barcelona held a dinner meeting on Sunday for Paul Pogba, as they are clear favourites ahead of Manchester City. Several sources, including La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, claim Juve director Beppe Marotta had dinner with Blaugrana transfer guru Ariedo Braida in Milan on Sunday evening. The subject up for discussion was the future of Pogba, who has been named as a target by Barca Presidential candidate Joan Laporta. La giornalaccio rosa notes it is irrelevant who wins the election, as both Laporta and Josep Maria Bartomeu made it clear they want the Frenchman. Barcelona are clear favourites to land Pogba, as they are locked down by a transfer embargo until June 2016. This paradoxically helps their cause, as they’d leave the 22-year-old at Juventus for another year to help his maturation process. Italian reports claim Manchester City are offering considerably more money, both in terms of the transfer fee and wages, but Pogba much prefers Barcelona as a destination.

Juventus 2014-15 Season Ratings: The Midfielders http://www.blackwhitereadallover.com/2015/6/29/8858849/juventus-2014-15-season-ratings-the-midfielders-marchisio-pogba-vidal-pirlo-pereyra Jun 28, 2015 As we continue to recap this season just passed, we take a look at the performance of the team's engine room. Juventus' midfield, for a long time considered one of the best in the game, played its own significant part in the team's achievements this past season. Despite changes to the coaching staff, in personnel, in formations and tactical setups, the performance of the midfield was consistent throughout the season and provided an apt springboard for the successes at both ends of the pitch. Here's how each midfielder stacked up this season. Claudio Marchisio - 8 Arguably the most consistent of Juventus' performers, Il Principino was a constant and key midfield presence in what turned out to be a historically successful season. This wasn't his best season in terms of goal scoring — his three goals falling way short of his personal best of ten in the 2011/12 season — but his overall contribution made it one of his overall best. Due to injuries to fellow midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Paul Pogba, Marchisio was deployed in different positions, whether in a diamond midfield or as part of a midfield three in a 3-5-2/5-3-2. This was the season where we saw Claudio exhibit another, previously underrated, facet of his game — his deep-lying playmaker abilities. Asked to play this position because of Pirlo's absence due to injury, poor form or getting rested, Marchisio often excelled in the role, displaying great vision and a useful range of passing that made the aforementioned Pirlo's absence less hard felt. Obviously he is not yet at the level of Il Maestro, but with a move to Major League Soccer looking all but certain for the veteran regista, Juve fans must be comforted that a ready-made replacement already exists within the current team. It's difficult to pick out one outstanding game or contribution for Marchisio this season, but I quite enjoyed his backheel that took the FC Barcelona defence completely by surprise in this season's Champions League final. We know how that play ended... Paul Pogba - 7.5 This was the season where Paul Pogba cemented his place as one of the brightest and most sought after young talents in the world game. In the mold of most of Juve's midfielders, Pogba adds a silky, skillful flair to his all-action game. Despite his young years, he has time and time again taken games over and gotten results for Juventus. He had his best goal scoring season in 2014-15, with eight goals from his midfield position in the league. For a player of his skill, one would have liked or maybe expected more than just three league assists (five overall). This is another area of his game that needs improvement. Despite the clear upward trajectory of his career, Pogba still tends to drift out of games too often and needs to be more consistently effective in his game — especially in the Champions League, where he has only one goal in his career so far. He also has a propensity to "show off," which he has been told off for by manager Max Allegri this season. One would expect with some more experience at the top level, and as he becomes more mature, these kinks in his game will be worked out. After another season which has seen the young French midfielder continue to improve, the rumour mill is already in overdrive, with FC Barcelona already openly registering their interest in the player and using his name as a pawn in their regular presidential campaign games. Both the player and most tellingly the club have move quickly to squash rumours of any possible transfer negotiations. However, given who his agent is, it's always wise to take that with a pinch of salt. While this writer is fairly confident that Pogba will be a Juve player for at least one more season, I'll still be wary of Mino Raiola's wiliness until the European transfer window slams shut on September 1st (come on, we know he's not going to Russia or Romania, right?). He's scored a number of beautiful goals this season — and some beautiful almost goals. My favourite memory involving Pogba, however, was this one with him and Allegri having a friendly skill competition in training. It was great fun to watch, and one of those instances that made me a bigger fan Mister Allegri. Arturo Vidal - 7 Following on from a summer of constant transfer rumours of a move away from the Juventus Stadium, the self-proclaimed "best midfielder in the world" continued his career in black and white, much to the joy of Gobbi — and the chagrin of "Mancs" — everywhere. That collective smile soon transformed to furrowed brows, as King Arturo had an inconsistent and poor start to the 2014-15 — especially by his lofty standards. Seemingly still struggling to recover from his knee injury at the end of the previous season, the Chilean put in below-par performance after below-par performance throughout the first three months of the season. Despite this, Vidal still amassed a credible five goals in Serie A by the Christmas break. He was much less prolific in the Champions League, however, where he went goalless and even missed a potentially key penalty against Olympiakos; in the end that penalty miss was irrelevant, as Juventus just made it to the last 16. The new year seemed to bring an improvement in form. Vidal even admitted himself that the break had done himself some good, with him finally getting some rest after a hectic 2014. From February onwards, it was like we were watching the old Vidal again. He put in imperious performances in the Champions League knockout stage, being key to Juve's progression against Borussia Dortmund, AS Monaco — where he put away the tie-winning penalty with aplomb — and Real Madrid. His headed goal against Sampdoria won Juventus their fourth Serie A title in a row. His performance in the Champions League final was less impressive, unfortunately, and he was lucky not to get himself sent off. However, his second half of the season improvement was enough to make his overall season's performance acceptable. Now, another summer of transfer rumors await, but more than likely, the start of the 2015-16 season will see Arturo Vidal continue with Juventus. Andrea Pirlo - 6.5 The classy Italian veteran had a mixed season plagued by injury and indifferent form. Playing only twenty league games, Pirlo notched up four goals and five assists — the latter statistic his lowest in his Juventus tenure. In all competitions, his stats are only improved by one goal more — a brilliant free kick against Olympiakos in the Champions League. Pirlo was still very useful this season, regularly directing play and spraying passes all over the pitch. The main disappointment this season was just how much he showed his age at times. More and more he got caught in possession and slowed the game down a bit too much. He became less of a protagonist. Undoubtedly brilliant when on his game, regardless of his advanced years, but it was a notable positive that Juventus did not seem to struggle when the player was out of the team. Seemingly aware of his waning powers, Pirlo has reportedly decided to call it a day on his Juventus career and make a lucrative move to Major League Soccer and New York City FC. All the best to him in New York and in the rest of his playing days. One sub-par season will not erase his general brilliance at Juventus — nay, his entire career. Roberto Pereyra - 6.5 Signed on what has been described here as a "Marotta Special" (a loan-with-option-to-buy), the young Argentine midfielder was brought in to add depth to a midfield that offered little in terms of quality outside of the starting MVP2. Admittedly, this writer was not particularly excited by Pereyra's signing; I viewed him as nothing more than a poor man's Vidal (down to the hairstyles). However, to my pleasure, Pereyra did prove to be more than just that. A competent midfielder with skill and an ability to make plays, the one area where improvement is definitely needed is his finishing. He scored six goals in all competitions this season, with Verona being his favourite victim — including this beauty in the last game of the season — but given some of the chances he got, he should have scored more. Regardless, he impressed enough to convince Beppe Marotta to take up his option with Udinese and purchase him outright. He also made his debut with the Argentine national team this season, and can currently be seen playing for La Albiceleste at the Copa America. All in all, job done in his debut season for "El Tucumano." Stefano Sturaro - 6 The young midfielder, dubbed "the new Gattuso" by some, was brought into the Juventus fold in the winter transfer window. His early Juventus career was pretty much a nonevent; a few minutes off the bench here and there, where he failed to impress. However, Sturaro really made his mark when played as a tactical wild card by Max Allegri in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal versus Real Madrid. Allegri threw everyone off by deciding to leave (the player expected to start) Roberto Pereyra on the bench and start Sturaro on the left side of his diamond midfield, playing Arturo Vidal being the strikers. Real Madrid was not expecting this, and were not able to adjust to counter this move by Allegri. Sturaro, for his part, put in a great shift for about an hour before being substituted. His highlight of the game — nay, highlight of his season — was this brilliant last ditch challenge on James Rodríguez's goal-bound header, getting enough of a deflection to take it onto the crossbar. This turned out to be a key play in the entire tie, and in the end was an important play which led to Juve's progression to the final in Berlin. Oh, he also did this against Napoli (I never saw Gattuso do something like that, though). A decent showing by the young Italian in his first six months at the club. Next season should hopefully see some more playing time and development for the young mediano. Simone Pepe - s/v The oft-injured winger played a bit part role this season, as has been the case since the 2011-12 season. Making a total of twelve appearances in all competitions, Simone scored one goal (a penalty in Juve's last home game against Napoli) and assisted on one goal. Despite his decreasing minutes on the pitch, Simone has been reportedly a constant positive presence in the Juventus dressing room. And that is something that priceless. After confirming his exit from Juventus, as his contract has come to an end this summer, I'm sure he will be missed by his now former teammates. Here's to Pepe doing what he does at another one of Serie A's clubs in the near future. Mattia Vitale - s/v The teenager, promoted from the Primavera squad, made the bench for a number of games before finally making his league debut in the loss away to Parma in April. He only made two appearances, but one can see some ability there. One to watch for the future? Maybe. Hopefully he can be a rare promotion from the youth to the senior team in the future. Luca Marrone - s/v The perma-injured former Italian under-21 international captain, Marrone did not make a single appearance this season. A proposed move to La Liga side Cordoba in January fell through due to a failed medical. We had such high hopes for Luca, and at twenty-five, he still has some of his best playing years ahead of him. But will he actually get to play those out though?

Tottenham Hotspur Move Ahead Of Valencia In Race For Llorente http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/06/tottenham-hotspur-move-ahead-of-valencia-in-race-for-juventus-striker/? Jun 28, 2015 Tottenham Hotspur are said to be battling Valencia for Juventus striker Fernando Llorente. The Bianconeri frontman could be on his way out of the Juventus Stadium after the arrivals of Simone Zaza, Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic at the club. According to Tuttosport, Valencia were favourites for the 30-year-old Spaniard, but Tottenham have now made contact with the player’s entourage as they seek to complete a deal for the striker. It is thought that Juventus are looking for around €12 million for Llorente, as Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe also monitor the situation. Llorente made 31 Serie A appearances last season, scoring seven goals, as Juve completed a domestic double of Scudetto and Coppa Italia.

Allegri: I never fell out with Pirlo, but Seedorf drove me mad at Milan The Juve coach said the Netherlands international almost drove him to despair at San Siro and rejected claims he fell out with the Italian midfielder. http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2015/06/28/13133302/-? Jun 28, 2015 Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has revealed that Clarence Seedorf ‘drove him up the wall’ during their time at Milan. The two spent two seasons together at San Siro before Seedorf ended his decade with the club by joining Botafogo of Brazil in 2012. And Allegri says the former Netherlands international’s obsessive desire to mull over every minor facet of the game almost led him to despair. “Seedorf wanted to discuss every detail and just talk, talk, talk,” Allegri, who was ultimately sacked and replaced by the Dutchman in January 2014, told La Repubblica. “He drove me up the wall. I’d say to him, ‘Clarence, if everyone behaved like you then I’d need a day with 700 hours in it’.” Allegri, who led Juventus to a domestic double and Champions League final this season went on to dismiss suggestions he played a role in Andrea Pirlo’s departure from Milan in 2011. Pirlo moved to Juve on a free transfer after the Rossoneri allowed his contract to expire and went on to star for the Old Lady as they marched to four consecutive Serie A titles. “I never had any arguments with Pirlo,” Allegri said. “The transfer to Juventus revitalised him psychologically and change can be cathartic. That season, my third with Milan, they no longer had Alessandro Nesta, Gennaro Gattuso, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva. “It would’ve been tough for Andrea to do as well in that squad."

Manchester City Table Club Record Bid For Pogba http://forzaitalianfootball.com/2015/06/manchester-city-table-club-record-bid-for-juventus-star/? Jun 28, 2015 Manchester City have reportedly tabled an offer of around €71 million to attempt to land Juventus star Paul Pogba. The Citizens are looking to mount a title bid for the upcoming 2015/16 Premier League and Manuel Pellegrini wants to add the Frenchman to his ranks. According to reports coming from The Daily Mirror, The English side are now waiting for the Bianconeri to contact them in regards to the club record €71m offer and then look into negotiating a deal with the 22-year-old. Juventus have made it clear that they want Pogba to stay in Turin and that he is going nowhere, but an offer both player and club can’t refuse could be made and would see the midfielder move abroad. Barcelona, Real Madrid and PSG are three other named clubs who are interested in making Pogba their summer marquee signing but reports also suggest City have spoken to Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, agreeing a deal worth €200,000 a week.