Socrates

PSG Ready To Offer Cavani And Verratti To Get Pogba Mar 31, 2015 Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly willing to offer Edinson Cavani and Marco Verratti in a bid to entice Juventus to sell star midfielder Paul Pogba. The Paris club have long been rumoured to be of interest of the French international since his explosion on the scene at Juventus, after arriving on a free transfer from Manchester United. While PSG owner Nasser Al-Khelaifi has also spoken to the player about a move to Ligue 1. According to Tuttomercatoweb.com, Juventus are now ready to discuss the possibility of Pogba leaving, and the names said to be going the opposite direction are Cavani and Verratti. It is thought that the Bianconeri have been following the duo for some time, and may begin negotiations should the pair be involved in a deal. A salary of approximately €9-10 million is rumoured to be offered to Pogba should he ultimately decide to return home, a figure that Juventus will not be likely to match.

Claudio Marchisio returns to training just four days after ACL injury scare Mar 31, 2015 I'll just say I didn't expect to be typing out that headline when I originally saw this story developing four days ago. But it's true — well, sort of, I guess. Claudio Marchisio is back training with Juventus. However, on Monday, it wasn't with the big group as the squad slowly gets back to full numbers during the current international break. Marchisio was in the gym working with the Juve trainers and doctors as he begins his recovery from his non-ACL tear injury he picked up while on international duty with the Italian national team late last week. Gym, swim, trim, whatever. Marchisio is doing football-like activities Here's Juventus' official web posting regarding the squad restarting its training regimen on Monday: The Bianconeri, boosted by the returning Paolo De Ceglie and Luca Marrone, were greeted by fitness drills in the beautiful spring sunshine as they endeavour to get in peak physical condition for their upcoming encounter versus the Tuscans. Also among the faces in Vinovo were Arturo Vidal and Claudio Marchisio. Having come back from international duty earlier today, the Chilean joined his team-mate, who was undertaking his own personal regime, in the gym. (Just an interesting side note: No mention of Andrea Pirlo, who was rumored to be one of the other injured players to be returning to training on Monday. Maybe no news equals good news in this sense. We'll have to wait and see on that one.) Ah, Claudio. Your fondness for constant Instagram photos and visual aids keeps us so up to date better than all of the Italy doctors' ability to correctly diagnose a serious knee injury. And we thank you for it. This is the first step in Juve's previously stated "day-to-day" diagnosis. What the exact time table looks like isn't something we know right now, but how many days it takes for Marchisio to get back to training with the main group will give us a really good idea about when he'll be back on the Juventus Stadium field. But this is the first step. And it's a whole lot better than we thought would be happening when this crazy "Marchisio tore his ACL then didn't tear his ACL" injury saga actually began. Isn't it fun? (Well, it's better than Marchisio being out for the next six or eight months, that's for sure.)

Real Madrid interest in Pogba only logical, says Zidane The Madrid Castilla coach has acknowledged they are keeping tabs on his compatriot but does not know whether he will be on the move this summer. Mar 30, 2015 Zinedine Zidane claims it is "only logical" that Real Madrid are keeping a close eye on Paul Pogba's situation at Juventus. The France international, 22, signed a new contract with Juventus until the summer of 2019 back in October but is still continually linked with a move away from the Serie A champions. Clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Madrid have all been touted as possible destinations for Pogba and Zidane feels interest in a player of such potential should not come as a surprise. "When we are talking about a player like Pogba, it is only logical Real Madrid are interested in signing him," Zidane told Canal+. "He is a player with immense potential, who still has an important margin for improvement. "He is still young and has an exciting future ahead of him. "Where Pogba will play next season? I don't know the answer to that question. You will have to ask him..." The midfielder, who is currently recovering from a hamstring injury, has been a key figure for Juventus in 2014-15, scoring seven goals in 22 Serie A appearances.

Pirlo returns for Juventus Mar 30, 2015 Andrea Pirlo is set to return to Juventus training this afternoon, after recovering from a thigh injury. The regista had attempted to return for the Champions League Last 16 tie with Borussia Dortmund, but was not deemed ready by medical staff. After a weekend off, those Juventus players not called-up by their national teams will resume training at Vinovo this afternoon, and Calciomercato believes Pirlo will take part. The 35-year-old has been following a personalised training regimen as he works his way back to fitness, but looks set to resume training with his teammates today.

Could Claudio Marchisio actually be fit for Juventus' game against Empoli? Just like we all thought would be the case about 36 hours ago, right?! Mar 29, 2015 After a whirlwind Friday filled with sad feelings, misdiagnosis and subsequently a whole lot of relief, the latest turn in the Claudio Marchisio knee injury-turned-major scare is upon us. And it's thanks to our friends over at Tuttosport, no less. Marchisio won't be out for six or eight months like originally thought, so we know that's great news. But could Marchisio, who has been oh so good this season, be back for Empoli's visit to Juventus Stadium next weekend? That's what Tuttosport is suggesting ... maybe. According to Sunday's edition of Tuttosport, Marchisio will be good to go for the first leg of Juventus' Champions League quarterfinal against Monaco on April 14. But when it comes to Juve's game against Empoli in Turin less than a week from now, that's still to be determined. Max Allegri, understandably, won't even consider rushing the 29-year-old midfielder back from injury. However, if Marchisio is training with the group like some folks in the Italian media suggest, then it will cap off what has been a remarkable four-day period where we've gone from his season being over to thinking Marchisio might actually play in Juventus' first game coming out of the international break. All of this, of course, comes off the back of Juventus announcing late Friday that Marchisio is "day-to-day" and not out for the season like the Italian national team declared earlier in the day. (That was a fun day, wasn't it? And yes, you're still allowed to laugh at the Italy training staff for completely botching that diagnosis.) Maybe that day truly will be Monday when Juventus resumes training. Maybe it's next week after Juventus plays Empoli and starts to prepare for the Coppa Italia second leg against Fiorentina. We just have to wait right now, mainly because that's what happens when somebody's injury is declared day-to-day. So pull up a char and get comfortable, everybody.

Zidane: 'Real Madrid on Pogba' Mar 29, 2015 Zinedine Zidane admitted it’s “logical” Real Madrid would be interested in Juventus starlet Paul Pogba. The 21-year-old France international is currently out injured, but has been valued at around €100m. “I don’t know where he’ll go, so you’d have to ask him that. Currently he’s at Juve,” Zidane told Canal Plus. “Considering his age and potential, I think he can progress even more. When we’re talking about a player like this, it’s logical Real Madrid and other big clubs are interested.” Pogba has also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea. Juventus have repeatedly denied they have any intention of selling the midfielder.

Marchisio in training tomorrow? Mar 29, 2015 Claudio Marchisio is remarkably ready to resume training with the Juventus squad tomorrow and could face Empoli. The midfielder was sent home from international duty on Friday afternoon with a medical report showing a “sub-total lesion” to the anterior cruciate ligament. There were reports he’d be out of action for six to eight months, sparking a furious reaction from Juve and their fans. However, Marchisio underwent another MRI scan in Turin that same evening and that found no lesions to the ligament at all. According to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport, Marchisio has recovered so quickly from the sprain that he’ll be back in full training with the squad on Monday. He could at this stage even play in Saturday’s Serie A game against Empoli. The confusion over why the two tests showed such different results continues, as the Istituto Fanfani medics insist there is a sub-total lesion in the knee ligament. It won’t stop Marchisio playing, but is something to keep an eye on.

Crocked Juventus Man Marchisio Could Be Back Next Week Mar 29, 2015 Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio could return to training next week, as his injury is much less serious than initially anticipated. The 29-year-old midfielder sustained a knee injury while training with the Italian national team on Friday morning, before it was reported that he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament, which would have ruled him out for six months. Fears of a serious injury were, however, later denied by Juventus’ medical staff. According to Tuttomercatoweb, Marchisio could be back in training for the Bianconeri next week, having a slight chance of being available for Juventus’ next Serie A match against Empoli at the Juventus Stadium. However, it is more probable that the midfielder will be back for Juventus’ Coppa Italia semi-final rematch against Fiorentina on April 7. Marchisio has made 27 Serie A appearances this season, netting two goals and assisting another six.

Barcelona look to Llorente Mar 29, 2015 Spanish newspapers claim Barcelona will make a €12m bid for Juventus striker Fernando Llorente. The headline of Catalan paper Sport reads: ‘Surprise transfer’ and lists Luis Enrique’s desire to sign a more physical ‘Henrik Larsson’ type of centre-forward. Llorente is the main candidate with Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko as the alternative. It would be a more than viable idea for all concerned, as Llorente arrived on a free transfer when his contract expired with Athletic Bilbao in June 2013. Juventus would therefore make pure profit by selling him on and it could be in the region of €12m. Tottenham have also shown an interest in swooping for Llorente if they can’t get Simone Zaza from Sassuolo. Llorente has dropped down the pecking order at Juve behind Alvaro Morata, who is also on the front pages of the Spanish papers after scoring his first senior goal. Morata got the winner in a hard-fought 1-0 qualifier against Ukraine on Friday.

Barzagli: 'Juve welcome Conte' Mar 29, 2015 Andrea Barzagli hopes for a “relaxed atmosphere” in Turin against England and slammed Antonio Conte controversy. The Juventus defender spoke to reporters after last night’s 2-2 draw in Bulgaria. “It certainly wasn’t a great performance and we made costly errors in the first half,” said Barzagli. He was also asked about the furious row between Juve and Conte, sparked by the Claudio Marchisio knee injury on international duty. “I think the controversy around Marchisio was basically invented, because Conte’s training sessions are absolutely normal. “The injury Claudio had could’ve happened at any moment. It’s not as if it was a muscular problem.” At first there were fears Marchisio had snapped the anterior cruciate ligament, but later tests showed any lesion was so minimal that he could even resume training in a couple of days. Nonetheless, the tension over this incident sparked a vicious response from Juventus fans against their old Coach, some of them even sending death threats. Barzagli tried to calm the waters ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against England, which will be at the Juventus Stadium in Turin. “I expect a relaxed atmosphere. We must remember the past and I am certain the Coach will be welcomed in the best way.”

Chiellini: 'No more controversy' Mar 28, 2015 Giorgio Chiellini made an appeal to media and Juventus to “surround the Nazionale with positivity and not stir up trouble.” The defender spoke to Rai Sport after a 2-2 draw in Bulgaria, which saw Italy take an early lead, go 2-1 down before the break and snatch a late equaliser through Eder. “We started so well, but then made mistakes, as we knew that counter-attacks were their greatest strengths and we lost two balls to concede two goals in quick succession,” said Chiellini. “I think we showed grit and determination. It’s true we scored late, but we had the chances to get goals much earlier. “Italy have never won in Bulgaria. We were a little naive to concede those two goals and it turned into an uphill struggle, but this side has ideas, fought hard and tried to the end. We were so close to celebrating what would’ve been a deserved victory. “It was a great sign from players like Marco Verratti, Andrea Bertolacci and Eder, who seemed like they had been in the Azzurri for years. “We would’ve liked to celebrate a win and get closer to qualification, but we do get some interesting ideas from this game.” Naturally, he had to be asked about the furious row between Juventus and Antonio Conte, which even saw some fans make death threats. “It was a tormented build-up. This Coach and this team does not deserve to be treated like this. I would like everyone to help this Nazionale grow and nurture it, not constantly stir up controversy. “I was fortunate enough to be a part of this Italy squad, we are starting a new era with a generational shift. If you look at the line-up tonight compared to our last trip to Bulgaria two years ago, you’ll see the difference. “In order to grow together we need help from everyone to look after the side and not try to cause trouble. “Conte has been able to change the inertia of Juventus after two negative years and made history, but he too needs help from the outside. “Now we hope to find a lot of enthusiasm in Turin on Tuesday against England and I send an appeal to the media that this Nazionale needs to grow surrounded by positivity and not negativity.” Conte will be in the belly of the beast on Tuesday, as Italy host England in the Juventus Stadium. “Let’s all appeal that any ‘afters’ from the last few years be put aside for the common good of Italian football. “In club football we have seen improvements already and it’s an important step that we can get closer to England in the rankings for next year. “Now this Nazionale represents the country and ought to be treated as such. I am sure the welcome will be good in Turin. We can’t wait to get out there.”

Claudio Marchisio injury reaction reflects poorly on Juventus Mar 28, 2015 The word to describe the matter is "bizarre." On Friday morning it was revealed that Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio had suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury while on international duty and would be out for 6-8 months. The tests were made by the medical staff of the Italian national team, thus sparking controversy. Alleged death threats were made to Italy coach Antonio Conte, who has incurred the wrath of his former club for the injury to a player sorely needed by Juve at this crucial stage of the season. Later on in the evening, Juventus announced that Marchisio's injury is not as serious as once feared and the player could in fact be back in training in a "matter of days." The club's statement read as follows: "The 29-year-old then underwent an MRI scan on his right knee this evening. The tests, supervised by Dr. Carlo Faletti at Turin's Fornaca Clinic, ruled positive, excluding the possibility of a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament." So which is it? A lengthy injury or simply a minor problem? Azzurri staff member, Professor Enrico Castellacci, insisted no mistake was made and suggested the communication of the news might have been confusing, "I never mentioned the need for surgery, nor that there was a total lesion of the knee ligament." He continued, "I think the communication was mishandled. The slender statement released by Juventus was made by a club and did not consist of a medical report." giornalaccio rosa dello Sport writer Mirko Graziano went so far as to note on Twitter that Marchisio will be available for the Bianconeri's upcoming match against Empoli on April 4. La Stampa journalists noted similar positive statements the night before. Needless to say, fans of the Old Lady experienced a roller coaster of emotion during this fiasco. The Italian midfielder has been in fine form this season and has expertly taken over Andrea Pirlo's role and led the team with character. Considering Paul Pogba and Pirlo's injuries, it's vital Marchisio remains fit and healthy to help push Juventus on during this difficult stage of the season and potentially reach the semifinal of the Champions League should they defeat Monaco in the quaterfinals. Without him, the tactics will need to change, at least in Europe. With few midfielders available, Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri will have no option but to play the 3-5-2 formation, which is bound to affect their attacking game, especially should they reach the latter stages of Europe's premier competition. Hopefully Kwadwo Asamoah will be back soon to at least offer another option in midfield should the coach want to stand by the 4-3-1-2 formation in Serie A and Coppa Italia games going forward. Sadly, the fall-out from the Marchisio debacle has led to unwarranted criticism and maddening behaviour. FIGC president Carlo Tavecchio revealed that Conte received death threats, leaving both men shaken. Judging by the reaction of Juventus fans on social media, opinions are split. There are those who are angry with Conte, while others insist he's simply doing his job and entitled to take it seriously. It hardly helps that John Elkann, Fiat owner and the chosen heir of former Juventus owner Gianni Agnelli, chose to criticise the man who resurrected the fallen Old Lady. A man so far detached from "Stile Juve," Elkann furiously suggested that the Azzurri coach is no longer a coach but a simple "cherry-picker with the highest number of injuries." It was a ridiculous statement and hardly befitting of one of Italy's greatest industrialist. The former Juve tactician could do with being a little bit more understanding of exactly how important this stage of the season is for certain sides and empathise with Juve's quest for success, as it is not only in Juve's interest but also in the interest of Italian football as a whole. Regardless of his comments, it must highlighted that without Conte, there would be no high-flying Juve, a team that is miles ahead of its rivals in Serie A and challenging the very best in Europe. A club now renowned for its winning mentality, professionalism and fighting intensity. Allegri may have refined this team, but make no mistake, Conte is its creator and regardless of the man's limitations or reasons for his departure, he deserves the utmost respect -- it's time to remember how a big club acts.

Marchisio back 'within days' Mar 28, 2015 Juventus medics suggest Claudio Marchisio could be back in action within days after new knee ligament tests. The situation is bizarre, as on Friday morning the Italy medical staff sent him back to Turin, having spotted a “sub-total lesion” in the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee. There had been reports of an operation and six to eight months on the touchline, sparking death threats towards Coach Antonio Conte on social media. Later that evening Juventus medics performed another MRI scan in Turin and “excluded tears” to the ligament. Today there were more tests and La Stampa claims they found the situation was even better than thought last night. Instead of two to three weeks on the touchline, Marchisio could be back in training within days and targeting a comeback in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final against Monaco on April 14. Today the doctors who performed the original tests in Florence insist they did spot a sub-total lesion, which although won’t necessarily stop the midfielder playing, is something to keep an eye on.

Italy medics: 'Marchisio sub-total lesion' Mar 27, 2015 The Italy medical staff insist there is a “sub-total lesion” of Claudio Marchisio’s knee ligament, despite Juventus tests. There is total confusion over the status of the midfielder’s right knee, as on Friday morning Azzurri staff suggested a lesion to the anterior cruciate ligament, which would require six to eight months out. Later that same evening, Juve medics in Turin performed another MRI scan and “excluded the possibility of a tear,” so he could be back in action within two weeks. “I do not have to justify the Azzurri staff, because I have no doubts that we acted the correct way,” said Professor Enrico Castellacci. “I do have doubts on the test results, because we’ve seen two with very different outcomes. I have the utmost faith for the radiologists in Turin and Florence, but please allow me a little uncertainty still. “Having said that, if the second test says one thing, it doesn’t automatically mean the first test was completely wrong. “I never mentioned the need for surgery, nor that there was a total lesion of the knee ligament. I simply made the Istituto Fanfani report public.” Marchisio underwent the first examination at the Istituto Fanfani in Florence, close to Italy’s training ground in Coverciano. “We can only confirm what we ascertained yesterday and that was underwritten by four famed radiologists with over 30 years of experience,” Doctor Fabio Fanfani told the Corriere dello Sport. “The player presented a sub-total lesion of the right anterior cruciate ligament. We never said there was a total lesion. “We are naturally happy if Marchisio, according to further tests, could be back on the field soon. “I think the communication was mishandled. The slender statement released by Juventus was made by a club and did not consist of a medical report. “What we had was a photograph of the situation, but we don’t have his current clinical records or the progress of the player. “I can tell you that there are various cases of players who continue their activity with partial lesions. “We are not run by Juventus or the Federation. Our opinion is a professional and free one.”

Juventus: Marchisio injury not as bad as feared The midfielder will be monitored on a day-to-day basis after a follow-up scan revealed no serious damage to his anterior cruciate ligament. Mar 28, 2015 Juventus have revealed that Claudio Marchisio's injury is not nearly as bad as originally reported. The Italian FA (FIGC) had stated that an MRI scan on the midfielder's knee reavealed that he had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament while training with the national team ahead of Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifying match with Bulgaria and would be out for the remainder of the season. However, the club performed their own tests on the 29-year-old, which show that he has not torn the ligament. "After returning from international duty on Friday afternoon, Claudio Marchisio underwent medical examinations conducted by Juventus’ club doctors and Dr. Flavio Quaglia," a statement from the Turin side read. "The 29-year-old then underwent an MRI scan on his right knee this evening. The tests, supervised by Dr. Carlo Faletti at Turin’s Fornaca Clinic, ruled positive, excluding the possibility of a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament. "Marchisio will now rest and his condition is to be monitored on a day-to-day basis." The news will come as a pleasant surprise to Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri, whose side are still competing in Serie A, the Champions League and Coppa Italia.

Juventus announce that Claudio Marchisio doesn't have a torn ACL Just another day in the neighborhood, right? Mar 28, 2015 So, maybe we don't need to be as sad as a couple of hours ago. Juventus' official website tells us this: After returning from international duty on Friday afternoon, Claudio Marchisio underwent medical examinations conducted by Juventus' club doctors and Dr. Flavio Quaglia. The 29-year-old then underwent an MRI scan on his right knee this evening. The tests, supervised by Dr. Carlo Faletti at Turin's Fornaca Clinic, ruled positive, excluding the possibility of a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament. Marchisio will now rest and his condition is to be monitored on a day-to-day basis. Uh, so yeah. About that whole thing where Claudio Marchisio is out for the rest of the season because his ACL was in need of some repairs... The obvious plot twist is that Juventus has announced the original diagnosis from earlier today about Marchisio's ACL being torn can essentially be thrown right out the window. (You can point and laugh at the Italy doctors, but that option is optional at this point.) The diagnosis of "day-to-day" doesn't really say a lot in terms of how long he will truly be out, but it's definitely a vast improvement over the grim news that came out of the Italian national team camp Friday afternoon. It's confusing, sure, but it's also better than the original reports suggested. I guess now all we do is wait. Not only to see how Marchisio's knee heals, but also when his return actually takes place. Having something listed as 'day-to-day' can mean exactly that, or it can be evaluated on a daily basis for a month without much improvement. And knowing how this day has gone with one diagnosis essentially canceling the other one out, I'm going to just wait for the next injury update to come our way. Hopefully it's another step forward like the one above.

Tottenham And Liverpool Ahead In Battle For Llorente Mar 27, 2015 Fernando Llorente could leave Juventus at the end of the season with up to five Premier League clubs interested in capturing his signature. Llorente, 30, joined Juventus from Athletic Bilbao in 2013 on a free transfer but could be set to leave the Bianconeri this summer with two years still to run on his contract. The Premier League would seem the likeliest destination with five clubs reported to have declared an interest in the Spanish forward, according to TuttoJuve.com, who would likely cost around €10 million. Tottenham Hotspur want to compliment their free-scoring forward Harry Kane with Llorente’s experience, whilst Liverpool are trying to offload Mario Balotelli and could look to the Juventus striker as a replacement. West Ham United and Everton are also interested and Aston Villa could be set to step-up their interest if they can maintain their Premier League status.

Marchisio: ‘No ligament damage’ Mar 27, 2015 Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has 'no cruciate ligament damage' according to the latest medical exams and his own club. The midfielder's injury forced him out of the Azzurri camp today and sparked bitter controversy between Coach Antonio Conte and the Juventus supporters. But the whole episode may have been illusory as the midfielder's further examinations with his own club revealed that there was no damage to the cruciate ligament, as reported by the club via a statement on their site. “Claudio Marchisio, who returned this afternoon from the national team's training grounds, underwent exams by the Juventus doctors and Professor Flavio Quaglia,” reads the statement. “He was then given a new MRI scan to the right knee, under the supervision of Professor Carlo Faletti at the Fornaca clinic. “The visit and the exam have ruled out damage to the anterior cruciate ligament. “Claudio will rest for a few days and his condition will be monitored daily.”

Juventus Relieved As Marchisio Injury Not As Bad As First Feared Mar 27, 2015 Juventus have received good news as Claudio Marchisio’s knee injury is not as bad as first feared. The 29-year-old limped out of training with the Italian national team on Friday morning, before it was announced by the Azzurri medical staff he had torn his anterior cruciate ligament, thus ruling him out for six months. But after further tests, a statement on Juventus’ official website read: “After returning from national team duty, Claudio Marchisio was subjected to tests by Juventus doctors and professor Flavio Quaglia. “He was then given a MRI scan on his right knee late on [Friday] evening by professor Carlo Faletti at Fornaca clinic. “The examination has excluded lesions in the anterior cruciate ligament. “Claudio will rest for a few days with his condition being continuously monitored.”

Claudio Marchisio's season is over Il Principino's season appears to be over, as the 29 year-old influential midfielder suffers a ruptured ACL on international duty with Italy. Mar 27, 2015 Another one bites the dust. Just days after Juventus fans have come to terms with the news that Paul Pogba will be out for seven weeks, missing both legs of the Champions League quarter-final against Monaco, another blow has been dealt with the news coming out from the Italy camp that Claudio Marchisio has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will be out for some time. His season is effectively over. This loss is arguably even bigger than the loss of Pogba. Noted football pundit James Horncastle tweeted "Marchisio has been Juve’s most consistent midfielder this season. Best campaign since Conte’s first." Bianconeri legend Alessio Tacchinardi called Marchisio "irreplaceable", adding "He’s been playing more on the ball, playing further back in front of the defence and he’s been playing in a higher gear than [Arturo] Vidal." While he may not have been spectacular, Marchisio has been extremely effective, and his form (playing in front of defence in place of the injured Andrea Pirlo) in the games against Dortmund was a key facet in Juve's dominant performance in both legs. So what does this mean for Juve for the rest of the season? Without Pogba and now Marchisio, one would expect that coach Max Allegri would revert to the 3-5-2 formation (or some variant of it). Given that we only have three fit central midfielders - Arturo Vidal, Roberto Pereyra and the returning Pirlo - he may not have any other choice. Stefano Sturaro could be an option to replace Marchisio, but he has not particularly impressed in his short stint thus far. With other midfielders Kwadwo Asamoah, Romulo and Luca Marrone all long term absentees, the Bianconeri are desperately short of numbers in the middle. With key games in both the Coppa Italia and the Champions League in the coming weeks (as well as our remaining eleven league games), this is hardly the time to lose players to long term injuries - much less such key ones as Marchisio, Pogba and previously Martín Cáceres. While Juve has gotten Andrea Barzagli back to full fitness and looking as sharp as ever, these huge losses definitely negate any joy that his return would have caused.

FIFA To Pay Marchisio’s Salary Until He Recovers Mar 27, 2015 FIFA will reportedly pay Claudio Marchisio’s salary until the Juventus midfielder recovers from his injury. The Italian international suffered a serious knee injury during the Azzurri’s training session on Friday, with reports indicating that the Juve midfielder damaged his anterior cruciate ligament which will thus see him miss the rest of the season. According to Sky Sport, football’s governing body will take care of Marchisio’s salary until he recovers, as part of a policy put into place which implies that FIFA will pay a player’s salary if he suffers an injury while on international duty. The 29-year-old has made 38 appearances in all competitions for La Vecchia Signora this season, scoring two goals and making seven assists in the process.

Lippi: ‘Marchisio absence will be felt’ Mar 27, 2015 World Cup winner Marcello Lippi says the absence of Claudio Marchisio will be ‘keenly felt’ by Juventus and Italy. The is a legend for the Bianconeri and his country, guiding the former to five Scudetti and the Champions League, as well as winning the World Cup with the Azzurri in 2006. “I only heard the news recently and it made me very said,” Lippi - who gave Marchisio his Italy debut - told CalcioNews24. “I’m sorry for both the national team and Juventus, who will lose a key player. Marchisio has proven to be a great player, his absence will be keenly felt. “A message for him? Just a huge ‘good luck’, but I know him and I know he has the character to overcome this difficult time. Forza Claudio!” The Old Lady will now be without two of their key midfielders for their Champions League Quarter Final with Monaco, as Paul Pogba is also sidelined. “We’re talking about two players who make the difference for this Juventus,” Lippi mused. “The centre of midfield operated very well with these two, so we must understand what kind of condition [Kwadwo] Asamoah is in and whether he can return to the squad. “It’s a very urgent situation, but Juve shouldn’t get ahead of themselves, there are important goals to be achieved.”

Tacchinardi: ‘Marchisio irreplaceable’ Mar 27, 2015 Former Juventus midfielder Alessio Tacchinardi says Claudio Marchisio is ‘irreplaceable’ and his absence means a return to 3-5-2. The Italian international suffered a ruptured cruciate ligament while on Italy duty this morning, and will be out for the rest of the season, including ther rest of the Bianconeri’s Champions League campaign. “There couldn’t be worse news,” Tacchinardi told Tuttomercatoweb. “It hurts to see bad injuries coming from the national team. At the moment Marchisio has been irreplaceable in midfield. “He’s been playing more on the ball, playing further back in front of the defence and he’s been playing in a higher gear than [Arturo] Vidal. “Now it’s up to the Chilean to show his quality, but the fact remains that this injury is a tremendous blow. “Given his absence the ideal solution is to return to 3-5-2, and hope that [Andrea] Barzagli doesn’t have a relapse in defence. “The diamond midfield means there’s more space to cover, and at this moment in time [Andrea] Pirlo [who is returning from injury] cannot do that, he has to be managed and safeguarded. “Because of this, 3-5-2 would offer more protection.”

Marchisio ruled out for rest of season The midfielder picked up a serious knee injury while warming up in Italy training, leaving the Scudetto champions without another key star. Mar 27, 2015 Juventus will be without Claudio Marchisio for the rest of the season after the midfielder injured a cruciate knee ligament on Friday with the Italy squad. The Italian FA (FIGC) had confirmed earlier in the day that the 29-year-old would miss Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifier with Bulgaria, with reports suggesting the injury was serious. Those initial fears have proven accurate, dealing a potentially huge blow to Juve's trophy hopes as they are now without Marchisio until 2015-16 and Paul Pogba until mid-May. "While warming up the player was suspected to have suffered just a sprain to his right knee," Italy doctor Enrico Castellacci said in a statement on the FIGC's official website. "An MRI scan was performed immediately, however, and it showed he had ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament. "After consulting with the medical staff of Juventus, it was decided to release the player to his club for treatment." Anterior cruciate ligament injuries usually take at least half a year to recover from, putting Marchisio's comeback date towards the end of 2015. Although there is no international tournament that he will miss out on in the summer, his injury could deal a blow to Juventus' hopes of winning the treble. They are currently 14 points clear in Serie A, but they are 2-1 down ahead of the away leg in their Coppa Italia semi-final against Fiorentina and face a testing clash with Monaco in the Champions League quarter-finals.