Socrates

Storari: ‘Buffon is the best’ Mar 26, 2015 Marco Storari believes Gigi Buffon is still the best goalkeeper in the world, and discusses Juventus’ aims. The former Genoa man is the backup to Buffon at Juventus, and still sees the Italy captain as the world’s best. “I think a goalkeeper also needs to be technically strong and from this point of view Gigi remains number one as far as I’m concerned,” Storari told Sky. “People speak a lot about about Neuer, who is a great goalkeeper and has exceptional physical qualities, but for the characteristics required by those who play in our position I think Gigi is the best. “Other goalkeepers I like? In Italy there are many emerging youngsters who could carve out an important future for themselves.” The 38-year-old also evaluated the Bianconeri’s aims for the season, and admits the Coppa Italia is a personal priority. “Once again this season began as a head-to-head fight with Roma [in Serie A], and as the games have gone by we’ve managed to accumulate a healthy lead. “There have also been a few slip-ups from the chasing pack, but I think a lot of it is down to how well we’ve performed. “Europe? We enjoyed a decent group stage and an excellent last 16, in both legs, against Borussia, knowing that we were a strong side and capable of getting through to the next round.Nothing’s changed with respect to our other campaigns, because we’ve always tackled the Champions League with the desire to win and perform well. The difference lies in the results we’re getting. “As for the Coppa Italia, We know we’ll be lining up against a side in great form [Fiorentina]. “Two mistakes cost us the first leg and now we want to overturn the scoreline, because the Coppa Italia is a target we’ve missed out on for many years. “If we were ever able to win the Coppa Italia it would be extra special for me as it’s a competition I start in.”

Buffon: ‘Conte’s Italy like Juventus’ Mar 26, 2015 Captain Gianluigi Buffon says Antonio Conte’s Italy side is just like the Juventus team which won three Scudetti. Conte took over as Italy CT this summer after leaving the Bianconeri, who he had guided to three consecutive titles, and Buffon reveals the same approach has been carried over to the Azzurri. "The coach has tried to put his stamp on the team since he arrived,” the goalkeeper told UEFA’s official website. “In tactical aspects on the pitch and also in terms of being serious and fully dedicated to work and specifics in training, the gym and so on. “He thinks – and I think this is the right way as well – that the more you get used to fatigue and overcoming mental hurdles, then the better you're able to respond to difficulties on the pitch. “It was like that for three years at Juventus, and I hope for many more years with the national team. “The respect the players feel for the coach, and the credibility he has among the players, is based on him treating everyone the same. “The rules apply to everyone and everyone is treated more or less the same way. And when it comes to deciding who plays, we are all put on the same level. That's a very good way to work.” The Azzurri captain then looked ahead to the Euro 2016 qualifier with Bulgaria, and insists it will not be an easy game. “When you play away matches against teams from that part of the world, you always face difficulties. “You always face tough sides that give 120 per cent because they're playing against Italy – it gives their players a chance to show what they can do. “It will certainly be a difficult hurdle to overcome. But I think that if we go there with the right frame of mind and the right attitude, which you need for this competition, then we are a team that can beat anybody."

Moggi: I will return to football The former Juventus chief will fight his lifetime ban from the game after being cleared of two charges related to the Calciopoli scandal and seeing another dropped. Mar 26, 2015 Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has vowed to fight his lifetime ban from football after Calciopoli charges against him were dropped. Italy's highest court ruled on Monday that the statute of limitations had expired on the accusation of conspiracy made against Moggi and his former colleague Antonio Giraudo around the Calciopoli scandal of 2006. It means they will avoid jail time and Moggi was also acquitted of two other charges of sporting fraud. In 2011, both men had their five-year suspensions from football extended to lifetime bans. "My battle goes on," Moggi told Radio CRC. "I will go to the European Court of Human Rights to have my sporting suspension cancelled and I will return to football." Moggi and Giraudo were accused of exerting influence over a number of Italian football officials who were involved in the selection of referees for Serie A matches. Juventus were stripped of their 2005-06 Scudetto, relegated to Serie B and deducted nine points in the aftermath of the scandal.

Massimiliano Allegri wins prestigious Bearzot award Mar 26, 2015 When you take a team like Juventus to the quarterfinals of the Champions League and essentially wrap up a fourth straight Scudetto in the middle of March, you're going to get some recognition for it. Turns out, that is exactly what is happening for Max Allegri. After being littered with praise in the days following Juve's win over Borussia Dortmund in Germany, Allegri officially has some hardware to put up on his mantel. Juventus' first-year manager has been honored with the Enzo Bearzot award, given to the coach that shows "ability to combine results with good football." Seeing what Allegri has done since the day he has taken over for Antonio Conte over the summer, I'd say he's done that with relative frequency. The official press statement, courtesy of Juventus' website: Massimiliano Allegri has been awarded the prestigious Enzo Bearzot recognition, the fifth edition of a prize named in honour of Italy's 1982 World Cup winning coach. Handed out by the Italian Christian Workers' Association, under the patronage of FIGC, the achievement sees Allegri follow in the footsteps of last year's winner Carlo Ancelotti. In revealing their reasons for the choice, the panel said: "Just like the great Enzo Bearzot, Massimiliano Allegri has always placed himself a step behind his players, giving them maximum responsibility but guiding them, as well as with tactical knowledge, with balance, resolve and tranquility. It's a method of working that appears to have become the trademark of one of the best Italian coaches." Allegri, of course, came into a fantastic situation compared to the one he left after being fired by Milan earlier in the 2014 calendar year. Sure, things were more than a little uncertain because of who just left, but the foundation was there for even more success in the upcoming season. I said before the year that Juventus' talent is enough to overcome any shortcomings Allegri has as a manager. But he's proven me and a lot of other people wrong. He's done a great job -- and that's not just because he's taken Juve into the Champions League quarterfinals. He's shown great tactical flexibility going between his preferred 4-3-1-2 formation and Conte's 3-5-2 based on what players are available to him on a game-by-game basis. And he's just done well to continue the progress Conte made in his three years in charge rather than seeing Juve take a step back despite clearly being the far and away No. 1 team in Italy this season. So, good on you, Max Allegri. Well earned. Keep up the good work.

Juventus Mulling Over €444 Million Calciopoli Compensation Case Mar 26, 2015 With the final Calciopoli ruling in, Juventus are reportedly considering whether or not to start legal proceedings to request damages of €444 million, as well as the two striped Scudetti. Juventus were relegated to Serie B and saw the 2005 and 2006 Serie A titles taken from them. Despite immediately gaining promotion back to the Italian top flight, the Bianconeri feel they have lost a significant amount of revenue through not playing in Serie A, as well as missing out on European competition. On Monday evening, the Supreme Court in Italy dropped charges of sporting fraud against Luciano Moggi and Antonio Giraudo after the statute of limitations expired. Though they were not acquitted. As a result, Juventus president Andrea Agnelli is mulling over a request for damages from the FIGC due to Calciopoli, as well as the reinstatement of the two stripped Scudetti, according to Il Fatto Quotidiano. A figure of around €444m has been suggested, made up of €130 million from a decline in stock market value; €110m for the depreciation of the Juventus brand; €80m for failure to take part in the Champions League; and €40m for a decrease in TV rights. Should such a figure be granted the Italian Football Federation would almost certainly go bankrupt, with other clubs affected by the scandal following Juventus’ lead.

Andrea Barzagli's Return Instantly Boosts Bianconeri Back Line Mar 25, 2015 Earlier this month, Juventus were locked in a tough battle with Sassuolo, the Serie A minnows giving the league leaders everything they could handle. Very few teams have entered the home of the reigning champions over the last three years and gone toe-to-toe with the Bianconeri, yet Eusebio Di Francesco’s men had given an incredible account of themselves over the opening 80 minutes. Just as it seemed the Neroverdi were going to escape Juventus Stadium with a vital point, two things happened which highlight just why the current incarnation of Italian football’s grand Old Lady is a truly great side, rather than just a very good one. First, Paul Pogba broke open the stalemate with a moment of pure individual brilliance, his thundering half-volley leaving visiting goalkeeper Andrea Consigli utterly helpless to stop it. It confirmed the Frenchman was capable of winning a match single-handedly, a trait he shares with Andrea Pirlo and Carlos Tevez, meaning La Madama are even more difficult to beat. The goal was wildly cheered by the home crowd, but a few minutes later, they would once again be on their feet, this time for a rather different reason. Looking to secure the result, Massimiliano Allegri turned to his bench, opting to send on a defender for one of his two strikers and switch to a three-man defence. While that in itself is no cause for celebration, it was much more about what had brought this particular defender to this point. Having completed his warm up and taken off his tracksuit, Andrea Barzagli went to the touchline and waited to be allowed to enter the fray. As he did so, Allegri walked over and gave his visibly emotional player a hug, after which Barzagli took a brief embrace from Tevez and ran onto the pitch. The stadium sung his name, and just four minutes later, it was over; a win, three more points in their pursuit of a fourth consecutive title and a clean sheet. Juventus may well be seen as an impressive side defensively, but that was their first shutout in seven games and it would not be the last. The match was Barzagli’s first of the season, finally overcoming a list of calf and heel issues that had plagued him since the World Cup. He underwent surgery to address the problem but struggled to recover his fitness. Having finally done so, he would be given his first start of the campaign the following week, Juventus once again running out 1-0 winners against Palermo. Again, holding their opponents scoreless was no mean feat, particularly given the fact Paulo Dybala and Franco Vazquez had already shared 19 goals and 16 assists in 2014-15. Four days later, Barzagli would not retain his place for the most important game of the year, a trip to the Westfalenstadion in the Champions League. Having netted a vital away goal in the first leg, Borussia Dortmund knew a win would likely see them advance, but Juventus turned in a stunning all-round performance and swept Jurgen Klopp’s men aside with relative ease. The 3-0 final scoreline reflected that dominance, and Barzagli was still at the heart of it, coming on with less than 30 minutes played when Pogba went off injured. The defender was flawless, helping the Bianconeri neutralise the threat of the German side who mustered just two shots on target in the entire match. Barzagli was again in the starting XI as Genoa travelled to Turin this Sunday, with another 1-0 win duly following. Just as Pogba had against Sassuolo, the defender would have what must be seen as a match-winning moment, knocking the ball away from Diego Perotti who seemed almost certain to score. “We’ve got an important and extraordinary defender back,” Allegri told Sky Italia shortly after the final whistle (h/t Football Italia) before going on to say how important Barzagli is to the tactical flexibility of the side. “With him we can play with three or four at the back, plus can afford to rest someone like Leo Bonucci who has played non-stop.” There is no arguing with either opinion, nor in underestimating just what the 33-year-old means to his team-mates, who had turned up en masse to watch him play a youth team game shortly before his first team return. Make no mistake, the man known as “The Rock” to Juventus supporters is the calm, stoic heart of their defence, and with clean sheets in each of his four appearances this term, there will be more cheers to come.

Juventus cannot keep Pogba if he wants to go - Marotta The midfielder has shown no indication he wants to leave, according to the Bianconeri chief, but he says he might be hard to keep if a big offer comes in. Mar 25, 2015 Juventus chief Giuseppe Marotta does not think the club can keep hold of in-demand midfielder Paul Pogba if he decides he would rather play elsewhere this summer. The Frenchman has been linked with an array of wealthy clubs over the past few months, including Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, and there have been suggestions he could cost as much as €100 million. Although Marotta insists that Pogba has so far shown no desire to jump ship from the Scudetto holders, he thinks it will be impossible to keep him in Turin if he starts to pine for a new challenge. “Pogba is the protagonist of his own destiny and if he decides to leave then we can't stop him,” the Bianconeri chief told Corriere della Sera. “Pogba has not indicated a willingness to leave, though. The problem will come when the player is offered a contract that is two or three times what he already earns. We're talking in the tens of millions per year.” Marotta also used Pogba as an example of how Juventus have scouted the best and brightest in world football to secure three successive Serie A titles. “Our appeal has changed a lot,” he added. “Before it was difficult to encourage players to come, for instance Antonio Di Natale refused to join us years ago. “Now, however, there is a race to come to us, and I'm talking about a race from players who are all-the-rage, the best in the world. “Pogba and Carlos Tevez are two examples of our scouting system working wonders. Our knowledge of top young players is excellent, as is our awareness of established players who might want to join us.”

Lippi: 'I see myself in Allegri' Mar 25, 2015 Marcello Lippi discusses his former team Juventus and its transition from Antonio Conte to Max Allegri, who he compares to himself. The Bianconeri turned to the former Milan Coach after three consecutive Scudetti with Conte, and many were sceptical that that success could be repeated. Lippi, however, is supportive of Allegri now and has reason to identify with him. “I see myself in him,” he has said to today’s edition of the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “He came to Juve more or less at the same age I did, he has the same concreteness I do, and he has the same drive to make the team more modern. We have points in common. “You can see his intelligence - he came in on tip-toe, in an environment where a certain type of football was being played, without rocking the team's certainties. “Then, with slightly different ideas, he gradually gave his own identity to the team. “As for my comments about Allegri not having Conte's ‘competitive fury’, it was not a comparison in terms of quality. I just wanted to highlight certain differences in their approach to football.” The Old Lady has been accused in recent years of coming short of her potential in the Champions League, but the Coach from Viareggio believes there are reasons to be optimistic this year. “The draw can be helpful. Think of Conte's Juve, and imagine what could have happened if they hadn't drawn Bayern [Munich]. “Monaco should be treated with respect, certainly, but they are not Barcelona. And once you're in the semi-finals... “I remember my Italy team. We were not the favourites, but one victory after the other we made it to the end, until our rivals looked at us with new eyes. Everything can happen. “These are signs of rebirth in Italy. Juventus are developing well, and after having imposed themselves in Serie A they can gain a European dimension, pushing the whole movement forward.” Lippi was also asked about one of the Old Lady's most coveted players, midfielder Paul Pogba. “I think Pogba is potentially immense. He just has to avoid certain attitudes. He should cut down on some of his creative plays, or at least do them as close as possible to the adversary's goal.”

Juventus Lining Up Zaza To Replace Llorente Mar 25, 2015 Juventus are looking to complete the signing of Sassuolo striker Simone Zaza, as Fernando Llorente nears the exit door. The Italian striker has netted 17 Serie A goals since joining the Neroverdi in 2013, leading to being capped by the national team, and is believed to be an ideal replacement for 30-year-old Llorente – who has struggled to a tally of five goals in 2014/15. According to Tuttomercatoweb.com, the Bianconeri were unable to bring Zaza to Turin in January, so signed Alessandro Matri on-loan, with a view to finally bringing the 23-year-old to the Serie A leaders in the summer for €15 million. This will coincide with Spanish striker Llorente departing to one of the prospective Spanish and English clubs that are chasing the attacker’s signature for around €10m, largely covering the cost of signing Zaza. While the likes of Paulo Dybala and Edinson Cavani are still on the Old Lady’s wish-list, this deal is favoured by the Juve hierarchy because of Zaza’s potential.

Moggi: Calciopoli a gun without ammunition and Juventus will act The ex-Juventus chief is a free man following his final appeal on Tuesday and he has spoken bitterly about the events of the last nine years. Mar 24, 2015 Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has branded the Calciopoli scandal a "gun without ammunition" after his prison sentence was written off on Tuesday. Moggi, who served the Bianconeri for 12 years, was acquitted of two accusations of sporting fraud in Italy's highest court, while a third accusation of conspiracy expired due to the statute of limitations. "In nine years they have found only a single referee guilty - [Massimo] De Santis - who did nothing wrong, anyway," Moggi told Mattino 5. "Calciopoli was a gun without ammunition, the evidence didn't exist – they were wrong. "Who was in the system if all the referees were acquitted? After nine years they found out that everything was regular and there was no influencing of others. "For 12 years we kept ourselves to ourselves without spending a lira. We did not have any money – we had to sell a player before buying another like when we replaced Zinedine Zidane with Pavel Nedved." The Calciopoli scandal rocked Italian football in 2006 and saw Juventus stripped of two Scudetti and relegated to Serie B. Following recent developments that have cleared Moggi and Juventus for many of the offences that led to their punishment, the club is currently seeking €443 million in compensation from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). It is expected that Tuesday's verdict will strengthen their case. "I do not know what will happen, but something will happen," Moggi added of potential further action from the Serie A champions, before telling Sky: "This case is an unfortunate thing. We joked around for nine years and the process has resulted in nothing. "It has come at great expense and many people have been ruined. This is the point. "In nine years they have established that the Serie A championship was regular and that the [referee] draw was regular and that communication with the referee designators was not exclusive." Moggi did not achieve a full acquittal as the accusation of conspiracy was only written off due to the statute of limitations expiring. "I didn't get a total acquittal? No, but I'm content with this. We had 150 witnesses, but only 24 gave evidence - the others were cancelled. I'm happy for those who were acquitted and for those who were close to me. But, all in all, I'm not happy about what has happened."

CALCIOPOLI VERDICT : LUCIANO MOGGI CLEARED Mar 24, 2015 Former Juventus director Luciano Moggi has not been acquitted as his sentence has been written off as the long-running calciopoli trial comes to an end. The final verdict was delivered late last night and as a result, Moggi has had his sentence written off as the statute of limitations had expired. Deliberations continued for almost six hours and the final verdict announced by the Supreme Court cleared Moggi of two counts of sporting fraud. The initial sentence of two years in prison for criminal conspiracy was written off however it’s important to note that Moggi was not acquitted, but rather that the statute of limitations had expired and as such, the sentence could not be enforced. Antonio Giraudo, another former Juve director will also avoid a prison sentence due to the statute of limitations. Paolo Bertini and Antonio Dattil, both former referees, were also acquitted by the Supreme Court however the appeal of Massimo De Santis was rejected; De Santis had previously accepted a 10-month suspended prison sentence. The prosecution against the acquittals of referees Paolo Dondarini, Gianluca Rocchi and Tiziano Pieri as well as AIC President Tullio Lanese was rejected by the court. The reasoning behind the dropping of some but not all the charges will be released by the court but this could take several weeks to be published. “This has been an unpleasant thing, and it’s all ended up in nothing.” Moggi told reporters outside the court house “In nine years it’s been established that the League was regular, the selection [of the referees] was regular and that there were no communications.”

For Paul Pogba, Paris Saint-Germain might be the best career move Mar 24, 2015 Barely a week passes without football agent Mino Raiola hitting the headlines by discussing one of his many clients. One of the Italian's more notable recent pronouncements involved Paul Pogba who, Raiola said, could cost over €100m when he leaves Juventus. It initially seemed like pure hyperbole from an agent with obvious motivation for increasing the value of his star asset, yet the more you consider the situation, the more it seems likely Pogba will become the most expensive player in the history of football. The greatest factor, of course, is Pogba's sheer ability. He turned 22 last month, and it's clear that the Frenchman is no longer simply a promising young player -- he won the 2013 Golden Boy and, a year later, was named Best Young Player at the World Cup -- but already one of the best footballers around. It's extremely rare for a player of this age to command this status, but seek out any "best in the world" ranking and Pogba features prominently. No. 30 in ESPN FC's #WorldCupRank countdown, he was rated 20th in the Guardian's end-of-2014 list, and no one above him was younger. He's still improving and will soon feature among the top 10 in the world too. In terms of being a true all-rounder, Pogba is arguably already the world's best. He's the complete modern player; initially noted for his strength, energy and power, and compared to Patrick Vieira, he has increasingly impressed with his creativity and incredible long-range goals. His Juventus teammate Arturo Vidal is in a similar mould, while Bayern's David Alaba is also a superb multi-functional footballer, but few are quite so talented in so many ways. In terms of his transfer fee, the crucial detail is that Pogba is wanted by a number of clubs, and therefore a bidding war seems imminent. This, in truth, is relatively unusual for a player being transferred for more than €50m. With Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, there was never any question of him transferring to anyone other than Real Madrid when he left Manchester United in 2009. Pogba, however, has various suitors. Premier League clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City and United, who must rue allowing him to leave for nothing in 2012, are repeatedly linked, but ultimately it will probably come down to Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, two clubs who are, perhaps more than anyone else, accustomed to paying over the odds. Real have broken the world record transfer fee five times in a row -- Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Kaka, Ronaldo and Gareth Bale -- so it's easy to imagine them doing so yet again, and it would be typically Real to sign Pogba for €100m. Carlo Ancelotti is a noted admirer of Pogba, although doubts remain about the Italian's long-term future as Real manager. One possible replacement for Ancelotti is Zidane, who is currently in charge of Real's reserve team and who earlier this season told L'Equipe: "What Paul is doing at the age of 21 is huge. Maybe we are talking about Pogba a bit too much, but if he can keep up his current development he can become one of the best players ever." Raiola, however, has been dismissive of Real's interest, admittedly after he was told Ancelotti suggested they weren't currently interested. "Real Madrid are a club that is used to buying players like you buy a facecloth -- and then throws them away like a facecloth," he said. "Real are a team that sees a player who has six good games at the World Cup and buys him ... we don't want to go to a club like that. We want to go to a club that believes in Paul's potential. I am not closing the door to Real, but I'm not opening it either." Last week, meanwhile, giornalaccio rosa dello Sport claimed PSG had already made an offer to Juventus for Pogba, and this is particularly intriguing. The French club have constantly paid extravagant sums for players -- €64m for Edinson Cavani and €63m for David Luiz in the last two summers, for example -- which suggests an even bigger outlay for Pogba wouldn't be unreasonable. Pogba would hold special significance for PSG. While the recent progression against Chelsea confirmed their position at the top table of European football, they're still searching for a true icon of the club. Their stars, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Sweden and Brazil's Thiago Silva, are exclusively foreign, and of the regular starters, only Blaise Matuidi is French, while Yohan Cabaye hasn't really settled and Adrien Rabiot is still a youngster. Pogba hails from the town of Lagny-sur-Marne, which is around 15 miles to the east of Paris, and therefore this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for PSG to recruit a Parisian who could grow into the world's best. It seems an opportunity too good to refuse, not merely for footballing reasons but for the club's overall brand. Qatar Sports Investments, the owners of the club, are aware that Paris isn't traditionally considered a football hotbed (the club itself was only formed in 1970) yet are keen to maximise the huge global appeal of the city itself. Therefore, the club is increasingly keen to be known as Paris, rather than PSG, across Europe, and a subtle but telling change to the club's crest a couple of years ago made this clear. Whereas the old logo said "Paris Saint-Germain" at the top, with "1970" underneath, the new crest has "PARIS" in big bold letters with "Saint-Germain" relegated to the bottom in much smaller font. The message is clear and what better way to emphasise the club's Parisian identity than signing a world-class Parisian? While PSG manager Laurent Blanc has admitted that PSG's transfer activities are constrained by financial fair play rules, this doesn't eliminate a move for Pogba. The club must operate at a loss of no more than 30 million euros next year, but should be capable of selling a couple of players to facilitate a move. Cavani has been repeatedly linked with a move away, with Ezequiel Lavezzi another who could be shown the door this summer. Matuidi and Marco Verratti are extremely important to the current side, but PSG might decide that sacrificing either is worthwhile. Recruiting Pogba would nevertheless be an enormous transfer for a club like PSG. When QSI completed their takeover in 2012, the club was effectively valued at €100m so it's quite incredible that, just three years later, they could spend that amount on a single player. Never before has a French club broken the world transfer record, which would make this a huge statement of intent. Although Juventus say he will not be sold this summer, Pogba might yet be the subject of this year's longest-running transfer saga. Usually they are a simple case of "will he or won't he?" but this one is more complex with the destination unknown, and the price potentially significant.

Tevez Juventus Exit Looking More Likely Mar 24, 2015 Juventus striker Carlos Tevez reportedly already has an agreement in place to return to Boca Juniors. Earlier this season the 31-year-old hinted at his desire to return to his native Argentina at the end of his current contract in Turin in June 2016, but now it appears that this may now be more than just a suggestion. Calciomercato.com claims that the former Manchester City man already has an agreement in place to return to the club where he started his career, and this could even happen this summer, a year earlier than expected. In February Boca president Daniel Angelici told Fox Sports that he believes the Argentinean international could make the move at the end of this season. “We talked to Carlitos on February 5, his birthday,” he said. “We hope for his return to Boca. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tevez resolved his contract with Juventus a year early to come and play for us.” The player would represent a big loss for the Old Lady, as the striker has already scored 24 goals in just 33 appearances in all competitions so far this season, including the winner against Genoa last Sunday.

Andrea Barzagli feared for career after foot injury Mar 24, 2015 For the first time since the World Cup, defender Andrea Barzagli is back in the Italy team. The Juventus defender, who said on Tuesday he feared his career could have ended because of injury, has been included in Antonio Conte's squad for Saturday's Euro 2016 qualifier with Bulgaria and a friendly with England three days later. Barzagli, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, made his return to Juventus this month following surgery on his right foot in July. "I played three matches in one week so I would say that I was ready to be called up," said Barzagli, who returned to training in September but was still in persistent pain and faced more time out after it was revealed he has a stress fracture in his heel. "It's horrible not to play and not to be in touch with your teammates at your club and the national team," he added. "I thought I wouldn't be able to play again because of the pain I was in." Barzagli played a key role when Juventus won three straight Serie A titles under Conte, and has also been a mainstay for the national team, with 50 appearances since making his debut at the end of 2004. The 33-year-old defender, who was also part of the Italy team who finished runnesr-up at the 2012 European Championship, said Euro 2016 would likely be his last appearance for the Azzurri. "The aim is to get to the Euros, then I think I will end my time with the national team," Barzagli said. "I will be 35, I don't have that extra something which [Gianluigi] Buffon and [Andrea] Pirlo have, and I think that Italy should rejuvenate and trust in talents such as [Daniele] Rugani, [Alessio] Romagnoli and others." Italy are behind Croatia on goal difference at the top of Group H, with both sides having won three matches and drawn one. Barzagli also spoke about the debate on foreign-born players after Conte was criticised by Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini for calling up Sampdoria's Brazilian-born striker Eder and Palermo's Argentine-born midfielder Franco Vazquez. "There have always been 'oriundi,"' Barzagli said, using the Italian word for foreign-born players. "There are rules, if they can be called up it's right that they have been because that means they are doing well in the league. "I don't see why there should be debate, other nations have them, too. If they are good, if they can give us a hand, they're welcome in the national team."

Barzagli’s Nightmare Is Over Mar 24, 2015 Juventus and Italy stopper Andrea Barzagli is ready to make an impact again for club and country after his injury hell came to an end. He missed the majority of the season with a heel problem and after undergoing surgery, suffered a relapse when it was discovered that he had suffered a stress fracture and has made just two Serie A starts this season – both this month, due to his injuries. But having been called into the Italy squad, he spoke about his problems on Tuesday at Coverciano: “My operation went ok but then in mid-September came the blow with a stress fracture to the bone that was operated on. “It was a bad blow for me. I had to slow down but have did my best to return to the field as soon as possible and thankfully now I am here. I had to limp for six or seven months just to go to the bathroom and there were times when I felt like an outsider at the team. It is not the same when you are watching in the stadium but thankfully it seems to be over and I am very happy right now.” Barzagli also admitted that the upcoming European Championships next year will likely be his last at international level, at the age of 33 now, as he does not see himself being able to keep up the levels that his club and country teammates have. “I struggle to see myself staying with the Azzurri after the European Championships,” admitted Barzagli. “After that, I will be more than 35. I am not like Buffon or Pirlo who can play until they are 40. “There are young defenders like Romagnoli and Rugani coming through who can take over within the national team.”

Barca pull out of Pogba race? Mar 24, 2015 Reports in Spain indicate that Barcelona are not in the running to sign Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba. The Frenchman is one of Europe’s hottest properties, and although he signed a new deal with the Bianconeri in October, the former Manchester United man continues to be linked with an exit. Mundo Deportivo had speculated that Barcelona would be one of the interested parties, however that has been contradicted by Catalan newspaper Sport. The Blaugrana have a transfer ban, and so would be unable to complete any signing until January of 2016. Allied to probable fines from FIFA for an alleged breach of transfer rules in the signing of Neymar, Barca have reportedly decided a move for Pogba would be too expensive. Sport believes a transfer would probably cost up to €200m, taking into account transfer fee, wages and other expenses.

Ex-Juventus chief Moggi a free man following final Calciopoli ruling The former Juve chief's final appeal in the Court of Cassation saw him cleared of two offences, while a third charge expired due to the statute of limitation. Mar 24, 2015 Former Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has had his prison sentence written off following his appeal against his role in the 2006 Calciopoli scandal. Moggi had been sentenced to two years and four months in jail for sporting fraud and conspiracy, but took his appeals to the highest Italian court – the Court of Cassation. Early on Tuesday morning, Moggi was acquitted on two charges of sporting fraud, while a charge of conspiracy expired due to the statute of limitations. The Calciopoli scandal rocked Italian football in the summer of 2006 and led to Juventus being stripped of two Scudetti and relegated to Serie B. Moggi was originally implicated as the mastermind of the scandal, with Juventus said to have enjoyed an exclusive relationship with referee designators. The former director was also accused of bullying the transfer market through the GEA player agency, using a secret International SIM card system to communicate with referees and officials privately, as well as other offences such as locking a referee in a dressing room and offering gifts to officials. Moggi was cleared of all these offences. The 77-year-old reacted to the verdict: "It took nine years to work out that the [2004-05 and 2005-06] seasons were handled fairly, the referee designations were fair and that there was no communication. "This trial was conducted in an odd way, we joked around for nine years. This has been an unpleasant thing and it has all ended up in nothing." Former Juventus CEO Antonio Giraudo, who was accused of fraud, also saw his prison sentence of one year and eight months written off due to the statute of limitations. Fiorentina owners Andrea and Diego Della Valle and Lazio president Claudio Lotito saw appeals against sentences already ruled to have passed the statute of limitations rejected. Ex-referees Paolo Bertini and Antonio Dattilo were acquitted, but another former Serie A official Massimo De Santis saw his appeal against a 10-month suspended sentence rejected. Juventus are currently seeking €443 million in damages from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) over lost revenue and the damage to their reputation as a result of Calciopoli.

JUVENTUS - GENOA 1 - 0 Carlos Tévez (25') Sunday, March 22nd, 2015 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Marco Di Bello JUVENTUS 1-0 GENOA PLAYER RATINGS – SERIE A WEEK 28 Mar 23, 2015 Carlos Tevez scored a golazo but missed a penalty in Juve’s 1-0 win over Genoa. Juventus were missing Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo so coach Max Allegri switched to a 3-5-2 system, including Andrea Barzagli at the back. Juve dominated the first half and the pressure finally paid off when Roberto Pereyra played in Carlos Tevez who fired home a great shot to leave Perin clutching at air. Despite missing a penalty in the second half, Juve coasted to victory to earn another vital 3 points and edge ever closer to the Scudetto. Gianluigi Buffon 6.5 - Had the occasional save to make, but nothing the verteran keeper couldn’t handle easily. Mostly untested and untroubled for most of the game Andrea Barzagli 7.0 - Shown in 3 games just what Juve have missed for much of the season. Made a vital interception on Roncaglia’s cross to deny a certain Genoa goal. Outstanding. Leonardo Bonucci 6.0 - A little suspect in his choice of passes, especially so close to his own goal. Improved as the game went on. Giorgio Chiellini 6.5 - One of his better recent performances, keeping Lestienne quiet and contained. Strong in the air, drew fouls from the opposition strikers and was defensively sound all game. Stephan Lichtsteiner 6.5 - Tore up and down the right flank when he could, beaten by Bergdich on a few occasions but seemed to play better for having Barzagli next to him. Arturo Vidal 6.0 - Hard-working as always, but not his best performance. Gave the ball away on more than one occasion, less of a threat in the final third of the pitch. Claudio Marchisio 7.0 - Exceptional in midfield. Worked very hard in front of defence but also made some spectacular passes that Pirlo would have been proud of. Roberto Pereyra 7.0 - A great display, full of great runs and brilliant passing. Provided the assist for the opener and could have set Juve up for a second on the counter attack. Simone Padoin 6.0 - Very little contribution in attack but defended very well to limit Genoa’s attacks. Carlos Tevez 7.5 - Scored a sublime first goal beating two defenders and the keeper in the process. Unfortunately missed his penalty and was a little quiet in the second half. Fernando Llorente 6.5 - Great holding up the ball but he had his chances to score and he failed to take any of them. A tough game for the Spaniard who can’t seem to buy a goal at the moment. Substitutes Alessandro Matri N/A Simone Pepe N/A http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

No Moggi Calciopoli absolution Mar 23, 2015 Former Juventus director Luciano Moggi was not acquitted from his implication in Calciopoli, but his sentence has been written off. The final ruling in the Calciopoli scandal, which rocked the Italian football world in 2006 and had among other consequences the demotion of Juventus to Serie B, took place today. The Court of Appeal turned down Moggi's case that he should be acquitted of his sentence for two years and four months over attempting to influence the choice of referees. Nonetheless, the disgraced director will not see any jail-time as the sentence is ruled to have gone beyond the statute of limitations, an option that is contemplated by Italian law for certain crimes. Moggi was acquitted of some individual charges for sporting fraud, but not from being the 'promoter' of the 'criminal conspiracy' that culminated in Calciopoli. Fiorentina owners Andrea and Diego Della Valle and Lazio President Claudio Lotito saw appeals against sentences already ruled to have passed the statute of limitations rejected. The public prosecutor has also called for former referees Paolo Bertini and Antonio Dattilo to be cleared.

Juventus say Napoli wrong to question Serie A officiating Mar 23, 2015 Juventus' general manager Beppe Marotta has criticised Napoli's talk of the league being falsified due to alleged refereeing mistakes in their 1-1 draw with Atalanta on Sunday. Napoli were furious with the refereeing of Gianpaolo Calvarese which they claim cost them victory against the Bergamese side, and may also cost them a place in the Champions League next season. A similar row was kicked up by Roma following their defeat to Juventus earlier this season and Marotta says it is something which must end. "Talking about the referees all the time and never being self-critical is a typical Italian trait," he said at a meeting of Serie A clubs and referees in Rome on Monday, reports Mediaset. "I'm not going to go into the incidents in Naples. "We've reached the stage where this adjective ["falsified"] is being used each time there is a refereeing mistake. Over the course of a season, incidents in favour and against level out. In the end, it's always the best team who wins." That has been Marotta's Juventus in each of the last three seasons while, with a 14-point advantage at the top with 10 games of the current campaign remaining, the Bianconeri are set to emerge superior once again. Those are the only statistics that will be remembered and not the odd disputable refereeing decision which Marotta says is totally natural and bereft of any ulterior motive. "I think human error is acceptable," he continued. "It's only in Italy where every Monday is spent talking about these kind of things."

http://www.tuttosport.com/foto/Calcio/Serie%20A/Juventus/2015/03/22-93032_0/FOTO+Juventus-Genoa%2C+il+film+della+partita http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/XwlYMYaySpV/Juventus+FC+v+Genoa+CFC+Serie

Buffon: Winning mentality part of Juventus' DNA The experienced goalkeeper was delighted with his side's attitude against Genoa, while also taking the time to praise head coach Massimiliano Allegri. Mar 23, 2015 Gianluigi Buffon has hailed Juventus' winning mentality and desire to keep fighting in the wake of their 1-0 win over Genoa on Sunday. A single Carlos Tevez strike was enough for the title holders to bag the full three points, with the Argentine missing a spot kick as well, and Buffon was delighted with his side's outing after a tough Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund in midweek. "Our toughest challenge was a psychological one, finding the energy to remain alert after Wednesday’s game," Buffon told reporters. "Tiredness is an inevitable factor but our desire to keep fighting right until the end is proving the difference. "Our winning mentality is the secret behind our ongoing success. Battling is the culture of this group, the club and our history. "It’s part of our DNA and although we’d lost our way a bit, we were able to regain a winning mentality and conviction during these last three-and-a-half years." The shot stopper then went on to praise head coach Massimiliano Allegri following his fine work at Juventus since his arrival last summer. "The boss made one of the most courageous decisions someone in football could have made. "Coming to a club like Juventus who had won three consecutive titles, implementing your own brand of football and still obtaining such results is something you can only take your hat off to."

Tevez: Juventus must wrap up Serie A title as soon as possible The attacker aims to decide the Serie A title quickly as he is keen to shift his focus to the Champions League quarter-final tie with Monaco. Mar 23, 2015 Juventus striker Carlos Tevez is desperate for his team to wrap up the Serie A title as soon as they can to allow them to turn their attention to the Champions League. Massimiliano Allegri's men enjoyed a 1-0 win over Genoa on Sunday, with Tevez netting the only goal of the game as well as missing a penalty in Turin. Juve are 14 points clear at the top with 10 league games remaining as they look to seal a fourth straight title. Tevez is eager to see the league wrapped up and focus turned to the Champions League, where Juve will face Monaco in the quarter-finals. "We are in a good shape, we are in excellent form and this is the most important thing," the Argentine told reporters. "We have to win the title as soon as possible and focus on the Champions League." Tevez struck in the 25th minute against Genoa, bursting into the area before firing a powerful shot in off the crossbar. He had a chance to complete his brace shortly after the hour-mark, but a diving Eugenio Lamanna palmed away his penalty. "This is the second time I've missed a penalty, the first time was against Napoli," Tevez added. "The most important thing is that Juventus got these three points and we keep winning."

JUVENTUS - GENOA 1 - 0 Carlos Tévez (25') Sunday, March 22nd, 2015 - 3:00 PM Juventus Stadium, Turin Referee: Marco Di Bello Juventus 1-0 Genoa: Carlos Tévez's brilliance wins it again for Bianconeri Carlos Tévez's fantastic goal and second-half penalty miss ensured Juventus continue their run of 1-0 wins in Serie A. Mar 22, 2015 Another day, another win for Juventus. The champions extended the lead at the top of the Serie A table to 17 points for a few hours, as Roma also won their game against Cesena. But the way Max Allegri — with some help from the players now and then — manages to drive Juventus forward from a great result to another, keeping the whole squad happy and in perfect harmony, is nothing short of extraordinary. And, at the end of the day, a 14-point lead at the top of Serie A is not too shabby, either. Besides the nice results that keep on coming, the great mood of everyone in the team is probably the best thing happening in Turin and Allegri deserves full credit for that. Even Fernando Llorente seemed to enjoy his time on the pitch more, as he and Simone Padoin started to give Alvaro Morata and Patrice Evra a rest. Simone Pepe and Alessandro Matri, whom are known for their great relationship with core players of the squad such as Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Barzagli, Giorgio Chiellini or Leonardo Bonucci, both received playing time as well. Having the support of the players is key in managerial success and with a team so united, making it all the way in the Champions League is becoming more feasible with every passing day. Genoa was a tougher nut to crack than it might have appeared at the first glance, even with the result of the last meeting from October in mind, when Il Grifone won the three points after Luca Antonini scored a 94th minute winner — it was a Matri assist, if anyone was wondering. When a side visits Juventus Stadium on a nice Sunday afternoon and, on paper, starts with at least a huge handicap compared to the hosts, the story is often the same one – they sit back, as close as possible to their own box, enjoying Juventus’ continuous flow of attacks for 90 minutes and, if possible, they would like to get home with only two points dropped. But it was a different story — more so in the first half — with this Genoa side who gave Juventus a good run for their money. Gian Piero Gasperini decided he would not stick with the pattern and had his players applying pressure on Juventus’ backline at every possible moment. Even after Carlos This vez scored that beauty of a goal, Genoa remained unfazed and played their game. The result? A highly entertaining first half that was later marred by a lackluster second part. MATCH SUMMARY A very lively start to the match saw Llorente getting in a good position outside Genoa’s box but the Spaniard couldn’t find a teammate with his pass after a good run forward from Arturo Vidal. Just a moment after that, Bonucci played a horrendous ball from defence straight to M’Baye Niang whose shot from 20 yards out went only inches wide of Buffon’s post. Juventus kept pressing high and were very energetic every time they had the ball in the final third. Ten minutes in, Llorente received a brilliant ball and managed a fabulous turn to get away from his man but after advancing in the opposite box with the ball at his feet, Facundo Roncaglia’s sliding tackle blocked the Spaniard’s shot. Chiellini found himself at the receiving end of a good delivery from Claudio Marchisio in the 15th minute but he couldn’t direct his header on target. It was then Genoa’s turn to apply pressure on Juventus’ defence as three minutes later, Buffon spilled a ball that came to him after a deflected shot from Andrea Bertolacci but the danger was cleared away by Bonucci. Moments later, Roncaglia also tried his luck from distance, although his shot went way off target. After soaking up the pressure, Juventus found the breakthrough in the 25th minute. Tévez — who else? — opened the scoring with a fantastic strike from a tight angle topping up an even better solo effort. Genoa poorly tried to clear a ball that reached Roberto Pereyra and the Argentine found his compatriot just outside the box. Tévez unleashed his dazzling dribbling skills, easily beating two opponents in his way through and then sent a fierce shot that went in off the crossbar, giving no chance to goalkeeper Mattia Perin. Juventus didn’t step back and had another chance in the 27th minute through Stephan Lichsteiner, whose left footed shot went over the crossbar. After the Swiss’ chance, however, the game lost a bit from its intensity. Perotti missed a half-decent chance for Genoa in the 44th minute when he found a bit of space at the edge of the box and tried to place a shot near the post, but Buffon made a comfortable save. The first half ended with a massive let-off for Genoa. Marchisio delivered another good cross from a corner kick and Llorente’s header was pushed wide by Perrin but straight in the path of Tévez, whose shot was then blocked on the line by Bertolacci . Chiellini got to the rebound inside the 6-yard-box but his shot bounced off the crossbar and referee Marco Di Bello put an end to the half. Gasperini made a substitution at the break as former Juventus — and Roma, Milan and other seven clubs — player Marco Borrielo replaced Niang. And Borrielo quickly got involved in the game or better said, in a row with Bonucci. The former teammates wrestled each other outside Juventus’ box, forcing Di Bello to book both players. Perin, who already needed the intervention of the medical team right before the break, tried to continue the game in the second half but eventually had to come off in the 52nd minute, forcing Gasperini into making his second substitution. Eugenio Lamanna took his place between Genoa’s posts. The first minutes of the second half had nothing from the good rhythm of the first – too many interruptions with a few players spending more time down on the pitch than playing football. Juventus missed a huge chance to double their lead just after the hour mark. Referee Di Bello pointed to the spot in the 62nd minute after Roncaglia made a clumsy challenge on Pereyra inside Genoa’s box, although Pereyra was looking for the contact. Tévez — and not Vidal — stepped up to take the penalty but he missed it as substitute goalkeeper Lamanna dived to his right to pull out a superb, essential save — his first of the match. At the very next action, Juvenuts missed another good opportunity when Tévez played a through ball for Llorente in a great position inside the area. The Spaniard faked his initial shot, beating a defender, but the next attempt was blocked and the ball cleared away. Allegri made a double substitution in the 72nd minute – Pepe and Matri replaced Lichtsteiner and Llorente. Three minutes later Matri won a free-kick on the left side. Pepe was the player to take it and sent a good cross in for the same Italian striker, but his header was an easy save for Lamanna. In the 79th minute, Barzagli received a round of applause from the whole stadium after a fantastic piece of defending to deny Perotti a chance to score, clearing the ball behind for a corner with a neat tackle. The game saw a quiet final with the hosts controlling possession and keeping Genoa away from Buffon’s goal. A last chance for Juventus came in the second minute of injury time when Pepe found lots of space on the right side but his cross had a bit too much behind it and Stefano Sturaro, who replaced Vidal earlier, couldn’t reach the ball. It was the last action of the game, as Di Bello blew the full-time whistle seconds later. PLAYER RATINGS Buffon: 6 Was called into action a few times in the match, but it wasn’t too much of a challenge for the captain, who was as confident as usual Barzagli: 6.5 After a shaky start with some problems containing Niang, the experienced defender got back to his usual great level – The Wall. Bonucci: 6 Often attempted the direct ball for the front players but made several poor passes. A bit uncomfortable at the back, also foolishly receiving a yellow. Chiellini: 6.5 Made a great sliding tackle that stopped a dangerous counter early on. Missed a huge chance before the break but had a steady defensive performance Lichtsteiner: 6.5 Good contribution in attack — very energetic and confident, and also decent when defending. It seems like the poor form is behind him. Pereyra: 6 A bit too hasty at times, losing the ball after an unnecessary take on attempt, but good overall. Credit for winning the penalty, but it was a bit forced Marchisio: 6.5 Great passing and deliveries throughout, although he made that risky challenge on Perotti inside the box. Industrious performance from Il Principino Vidal: 6 Decent ball distribution but again, not at his best level. Was caught on the ball a few times in the centre of midfield. Padoin: 5.5 Made an important clearance inside 20 minutes, but was quiet for the rest of the game. No attacking contribution from him Tévez: 7 Was once again the decisive man for Juve, creating and scoring a fabulous winner. Could have been an even better day, had he not missed the penalty Llorente: 6 Made a good start to the game, showing some nice skills but then switched off a bit, also missing a great chance in the second half. Subs Pepe: 6 Replaced Lichtsteiner in the 72nd minute. Wasted a good opportunity 10 minutes later when he hesitated to cross a ball for the lurking Matri, but provided the team with the necessary fresh legs. Matri: 6 Nice movement upfront for him after he came in for Llorente. Missed a decent chance to score with a header but didn’t make a massive impact Sturaro: N/A Replaced Vidal in the 88th minute Coach Allegri: 6.5 Continued with the same formation Juventus finished the great performance at Dortmund, shuffling the starting XI a bit, starting Llorente and Padoin. Despite the ambitious first half played by Genoa, Allegri seemed to have everything under control and after Tévez scored, the result was easily defended http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111