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Juventus can reach Champions League quarter-finals - Bonucci The defender is confident of making the last eight of the competition without disregarding the threat posed by their last-16 opponents. Dec 3, 2014 Leonardo Bonucci is confident Juventus are capable of reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League and says last-16 opponents Borussia Dortmund will provide the perfect European litmus test for his side. The Bianconeri won three consecutive Serie A titles under previous coach Antonio Conte, but European football's elite competition has proved to be something of a stumbling block. In each of the past three seasons the club have failed to progress beyond the group stages, but Massimiliano Allegri successfully navigated his new side into the last-16 by finishing second in Group A behind Atletico Madrid. Juve were subsequently drawn against Bundesliga side Dortmund and despite their struggles in Germany's top flight, Bonucci says the game will show just how far the team have come under their new boss. "Dortmund are a great team and they will tell us exactly what level we have reached in the Champions League," he said. "In the Champions League you need luck, but we have improved and we can finish in the top eight, I am certain of that." Despite topping Serie A heading into the winter break, Allegri's men ended 2014 on a sour note as they were beaten on penalties in the Italian Super Cup by Napoli, a result Bonucci is determined to banish from memory. "To finish the year with a defeat was not good and we want to immediately make a strong start to 2015. I want to defend the jersey and bring my passion." Juve resume their league campaign against Inter on Tuesday and face Dortmund in the first-leg of their last-16 Champions League encounter on February 24.

JUVENTUS - INTER - Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti BONUCCI: DERBY D’ITALIA ‘INSPIRES GREAT FEELINGS’ Jan 2, 2014 Leonardo Bonucci says Juventus are approaching the Derby D’Italia ‘full of motivation’ and believes the match ‘inspires great feelings.’ Speaking to JTV ahead of the game, Bonucci discussed the importance of the game against Inter Milan as well as the upcoming Champions League matches in February and March. “I’m in a good condition, though of course these last couple of days have been intense as we charge our batteries to end the season as protagonists, like always,” said the defender. “We’re coming into the game the way we have to, full of motivation.We closed the year with a defeat [against Napoli in the Supercoppa Italiana] and when you’re playing for Juventus it’s never good to lose a trophy. “We must start again strong, and the upcoming Derby d’Italia inspires great feelings in the tifosi – but we feel it even more strongly, because we must continue the positive streak that made us the League’s protagonists of the last few years. And of course we must keep our distance with Roma.” Juventus have been drawn against Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 of the Champions League with the first match to be played in Turin. “Borussia are a great team, we mustn’t be fooled by their current standing in the League. “In any case we’re aware of having grown over the last few months as a team, even at a European level, especially in the concentration and the handling of the games. “This two-legged match against Borussia will tell us the level that Juventus have reached. What’s certain is that we’ll play two great matches and we’ll focus on the target of qualifying to the next turn. “In the championship, if you take away the path that we’re following in parallel with Roma, we have a balanced situation in the middle of the standings. “This means that every game could be hiding dangers. We’ll have to be careful never to lower our guards and always closing the games, because as the match against Sampdoria proved, any missed opportunity results in points dropped along the road and this must not happen. Every game has to be finished with three points in the bag.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

United offer €100m for Pogba? Jan 2, 2015 Rumours suggest that Manchester United may be readying a shock offer of almost €100m to reclaim midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus. The French talent joined his current club from the Red Devils for free in 2012, but the English powerhouse could be looking to get him back. According to the Daily Express, the team from Manchester readied a similar bid to try and swoop Gareth Bale from Real Madrid, but were shot down. Now Coach Louis van Gaal's attention has apparently turned to Juventus starlet Pogba, with an offer of £77m, around €98m being rumoured. Pogba recently spoke of being ‘proud’ to be at Juventus and has just signed a contract extension with the Bianconeri.

Sneijder would be a luxury for Juventus - Allegri The Bianconeri coach has likened the midfielder to an expensive villa he would like to acquire, but suspects he may have to pursue more affordable targets. Jan 2, 2015 Massimiliano Allegri has admitted he would like to sign Wesley Sneijder for Juventus, but fears being priced out of a deal for the Galatasaray man. The Bianconeri are currently three points clear of Roma at the top of Serie A, but the club's director general Beppe Marotta has confirmed they are actively seeking reinforcements in the January transfer window. Southampton were also interested in the Netherlands international but Ronald Koeman revealed the club could not afford his wages and though Allegri harbours similar concerns, admits he would like to add him to his squad. "I'd like to have a €15m villa, but if I can't afford it I have to look for an apartment that I like. Sneijder? In reality he is a villa, but with a particular situation," Allegri said in an interview with La Stampa. "The club's objective is to raise the technical level of Juventus." The Juve coach also looked forward to his side's Champions League last 16 tie with Borussia Dortmund, which he anticipates will provide two great games, and stated that he has identified with the club's values since joining. "I don't know how it's going to end against Borussia Dortmund, who are a great team, but we'll certainly play two great matches. "I have felt like a 'juventino' since I set foot here. Here you have 12 million supporters, everyone else has their team and then roots against us." Juve return to Serie A action on Tuesday when they host Sneijder's former club in Roberto Mancini's Inter.

JUVENTUS - INTER - Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Juventus are beatable - Hernanes The 29-year-old feels the Nerazzurri can start the year with a positive result against the Bianconeri and mount a challenge for third place. Jan 2, 2014 Hernanes says Juventus are "beatable" and is confident Inter can begin 2015 by shocking the Serie A champions on Tuesday. The Bianconeri are top of Italian top flight, but were stunned by Napoli in the Italian Super Cup as they lost 6-5 on penalties after the game ended 2-2 in their final match before the winter break. Inter are well off the pace in 11th spot in Serie A but Hernanes, who recently returned from an injury lay-off, is confident of starting the New Year with a victory over Massimiliano Allegri's men. "We must start well, then we'll see what happens. I do not do predictions, but I feel it will go well for us," Hernanes said to La giornalaccio rosa. "We will have to be aggressive, but also ordered and polished. Inter are close to a turning point. "You can talk about different statistics of the latest games, including possession, but we have to be more consistent in a single match - often carelessness costs us dearly. "Yes [Juve are beatable], it showed against Genoa. But it remains very tough as they have since found additional confidence and security by reaching the next round of the Champions League. "When I was at Sao Paulo we closed a gap of 11 points in the second round of fixtures and won the title. We must always believe. If we correct the details on which we are working, we will arrive at the top." http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Allegri: ‘Juventus need confidence’ Jan 2, 2015 Max Allegri discusses the transfer market and says Juventus need ‘confidence’ to progress, as he anticipates ‘two great matches’ against Borussia Dortmund. The 47-year-old’s team is currently leading in the Serie A standings and set to compete in the Last 16 of the Champions League. Despite this, a few days ago President Andrea Agnelli stated that Italian clubs cannot compete with the resources in foreign Leagues, and his Coach has backed the necessity of being realistic when looking at the mercato. “I'd like to have a €15m villa, but if I can't afford it I have to look for an apartment that I like,” said Allegri in an interview with La Stampa. “Though in reality we're dealing with a villa, it just has a particular situation behind it. “The club’s objective is to raise the technical level of Juventus.” The former Milan tactician touched on a variety of topics in his interview, including the Champions League and the Juventus experience. “I don't know how it's going to end against Borussia Dortmund, who are a great team. But we'll certainly play two great matches. “I feel a juventino since I set foot here. Here you have 12 million supporters, everyone else has their team and then roots against us. “I'm an evolutionist. I found a team that worked in a certain way, winning three Scudetti and two Supercups, and that needed to undergo an important passage. “Saying that everything's going smoothly would be presumptuous, but we're on the right path. “The Supercup [lost to Napoli] does not spoil five months of work, though I'm regretful about the way it went, as we had three decisive opportunities. “But our targets were the League, where we are leading, and qualifying for the next stage of the Champions League. The Supercup came later.” Allegri was also asked to what extent he is involved with the club's internal policy. “I said this a thousand times, the assistant director of a business is the person who does that kind of thing, because he must bring in resources. As a Coach, I must bring in results. “In football, people think that others prepare the formation for you or that you accept everything the club says. It doesn't work that way. “Aside from the Premier League, being a Coach-cum-manager doesn't mean buying 15 different players, but being aware of marketing and finance issues. “There are Coaches that are well educated and those who base themselves on intuition, but that doesn't mean renouncing to using reason. “It's just that instinct is the solution in the fleeting moment, so it becomes essential. This is a group that has considerable technical, physical and tactical means, but it needs confidence. “There is a subtle line between confidence and conceit. But confidence does lead you to achieving results beyond all expectations. And that's what we need in the Champions League.”

Juventus Ready To Offer Lichtsteiner New Deal Jan 1, 2015 Juventus are reportedly ready to offer Stephan Lichtsteiner a new deal in the coming weeks despite rumours claiming otherwise. The 30-year-old, whose current contract with the Bianconeri is set to expire in June, has been heavily linked with a January move to Manchester United due to complications in negotiating a new agreement with the Old Lady, but is now apparently on the verge of signing a renewal with the Turin giants. According to Tuttomercatoweb, the Swiss international’s new contract will see him remain at Juventus until 2017, with an option to extend his stay until 2018 in time, and will have him earn around €3 million per season. Reports suggest that while negotiations are now complete between Juve and the former Lazio man, the reigning Serie A champions will hold off on officially announcing the news until mid-January. Lichtsteiner has scored two goals and provided four assists in his 15 Serie A appearances this season thus far.

Max Allegri Approval Rating - December 2014 How did Max Allegri do over the course of the last month? Dec 31, 2014 After a stunning November, Juventus simmered down a little in the Christmas month, ending up with a pretty poor record of one win, three draws and one loss on penalties. Overall Juve went into the winter break three points clear at the top of the table and qualification into the knockout round of the Champions League sealed, which is a good platform to attack the second half of the season from. At the beginning of the season when we first heard of Antonio Conte's departure and that his sizable shoes would be filled by one Massimiliano Allegri, most Juventini would have gladly settled being in the position that the Bianconeri find themselves in right now. In recent days, Beppe Marotta has announced that Juve will be active in the January transfer market as they look to add a defender as well as someone to play in the trequartista position too. Here is a breakdown of Juventus' results in this past month: 1-1 draw, away at Fiorentina (Serie A) 0-0 draw, home against Atletico Madrid (Champions League) 1-1 draw, home against Sampdoria (Serie A) 3-1 win, away at Cagliari (Serie A) 7-8 (pen) loss, against Napoli (Supercoppa)

Tevez: I won't renew with Juventus The Argentine has enjoyed a fine run of form since his move to Turin but admits he doesn't plan to stay with the Old Lady past 2016. Dec 31, 2014 Carlos Tevez has revealed he has no plans to extend his current contract with Juventus. The Argentine has been in fine form since his move to the Serie A champions and is currently their top scorer in the league. However, Tevez has no desire to continue his legacy in Turin past his current deal. “I want to respect my contract until 2016,” he told reporters at Buenos Aires airport, “That's my plan. “I don't want to extend, that's not how I feel at the moment.” When asked if he would consider a return to boyhood club Boca Juniors, the 30-year-old urged calmness on any decisions regarding his future. “It's too hard to say right now,” he said, “I'm playing at a high level so it's important to be calm and enjoy being in the moment. “Constant speculation would drive me crazy.”

Manchester City Set To Pursue Lichtsteiner Dec 31, 2014 Manchester City are reportedly ready to pursue Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner during the January transfer window. The 30-year-old, who is currently set to be out of a contract with the Bianconeri in June, has drawn the attention of a number of Premier League teams as of late including Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, though it seems the Citizens are now prepared to enter the race for his signature as well. According to Quotidiano Sportivo, Manchester City would still be interested in making a bid for the Swiss international despite his ongoing negotiations with Juventus to sign a new contract in the coming weeks and could present a considerable offer in order to lure the defender away from the Old Lady this winter. The right back, who joined at Juve from Lazio in June 2011, has scored two goals and provided four assists in his 15 Serie A appearances this season thus far, giving him a total of 12 goals in his 106 league appearances for the Turin giants since his arrival.

JUVENTUS - INTER - Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Lippi backs Juventus for title Dec 30, 2014 Former Juventus Coach Marcello Lippi believes the Bianconeri will pip Roma to this season’s Scudetto. Juventus hold a three point lead over Rudi Garcia’s men at the top of the table, and the World Cup winning Coach believes Max Allegri’s side will press home their advantage in the second half of the season. “Juve and Roma have shown that they have no rivals in the League,” Lippi explained to Tuttosport. “They’ve made it a two-horse race in a very short time. The Giallorossi will fight with all their strength to get their hands on the Scudetto, but Juve restart in January as favourites. “Being the favourite doesn’t mean the Bianconeri will definitely win the title, but they have a better chance, for two reasons. “Roma were initially brilliant, and had a fast start. But they’ve seemed in decline for a few games, they’ve had problems. “Juggling the League and the Champions League has taken its toll. Roma will continue to use energy for the Europa League. “Also, certain situations such as the incredible [7-1] defeat to Bayern Munich and the elimination from the Champions League will have their effect, it’s inevitable. “In Garcia’s favour however, the gap is not large, and they have a second game at home to Juve to come, and the Christmas break usually clears everything and you can start again with a clean slate. “But my view is that the League will resume with Juve able to maintain their supremacy. “The second reason? I’m thinking about the Supercoppa. Juve were certainly not at their best, and it started in the best possible way for the Bianconeri, with an instant goal from [Carlos] Tevez. “The path seemed smooth. It’s not like Juve to allow an equaliser twice, and I think the main cause was fatigue. “Juve had the Supercoppa on a plate, but they weren’t in great shape in the last few weeks of December. “Higuain’s quality and Napoli’s desire levelled the game up, and the penalties are a lottery. These kind of things are a one-off, I can understand some bad feelings at the time, but when they return Juventus will show their supremacy. “They were built to win, as always and they have a great squad, the best in Italy. They have unrivalled experience and are stronger than a year ago. “Now they’ll be hungrier. The Supercoppa will not have a negative effect, it will only be positive. “The Bianconeri will be back with even more anger, desire and determination after the disappointment in Doha. “I know them well, Buffon and his teammates, and they’ll have twice as much ferocity now. “Juve finished the year top, and with Champions League qualification secured. Twice they took the lead in the Supercoppa, and had one hand on the trophy. “Losing a trophy on penalties hurts, but it doesn’t indicate a problem.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER - Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti The Diverging Destinies of Juventus and Internazionale Dec 30, 2014 The 26th of July, 2006 is a day that will forever live in infamy in Italian football. It was the day on which, after all had been said and done in terms of various appeal processes, the punishments for the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal were handed down. Five teams were implicated, none more so than reigning Serie A champions Juventus, who were stripped of their two most recent titles and relegated to the second tier for the first time in their 109-year history. As well as the anticipated mass exodus of players not interested in playing in Serie B, the Old Lady also had the unenviable task of trying to overcome a deduction of nine points. At the beginning of the 2006/07 season, there was no guarantee that they would be returning to the top flight. Meanwhile, in Serie A, a new power was already on the rise. Internazionale—who, prior to the scandal, hadn’t won the title since 1989—were awarded Juve’s abdicated title, and with their main championship rivals AC Milan faced with a points deduction of their own, little stood in their way. They eventually collected five consecutive scudetti, bolstered by the fact that they were now the undisputed powerhouse of Italian football and could attract top-tier players. This status was cemented in 2010, when Jose Mourinho led the club to an unprecedented continental treble that included the Champions League, which Inter had last won in 1965. Juventus had emerged from Serie B after one season, having held on to key players like Gianluigi Buffon, Alessandro Del Piero, Pavel Nedved and Giorgio Chiellini. They then briefly threatened to pick up where they had left off, but an aging squad and high turnover of managers saw them finish seventh in both 2009/10 and 2010/11. Few would have expected the 2011/12 season to represent such a dramatic changing of the guard. Juventus returned to the summit, while Inter slumped to sixth, having never been higher than fifth all season. Two hallmarks of Inter's halcyon period were managerial stability and financial clout. Between 2004 and 2010, the club had just two coaches—Mourinho and Roberto Mancini before him. This cohesion was critical given the amount of money that club owner Massimo Moratti was making available for transfers. Since 2010 and their last title win, the club has had seven head coaches. Moratti, now no longer the club’s owner, invested around €1.2 billion into the club over his 18 years in charge, much of which was post-2006, with signings such as Samuel Eto’o, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wesley Sneijder. However, as shown in Deloitte’s figures for the 2010/11 season, Inter’s overall revenue was just €211.4 million—Real Madrid raked in €479.5 million by comparison. This disparity was critical to the crumbling of Inter’s empire. In an ironic twist, Inter actually may have suffered due to Juventus’s disappearance from Europe’s top table. Serie A’s popularity had been on the wane since its late '90s heyday, but Juve’s relegation undoubtedly signalled the death knell of the league’s golden period. With attention turning to Spain as the new rival to the Premier League, Inter were forced to wage an unwinnable battle for international revenue streams. The fact that their income has been rapidly eclipsed by the top Bundesliga and La Liga sides meant that Moratti’s spending simply became unsustainable. As Inter faltered, Juventus returned in style. Under Antonio Conte, the club went the entirety of the 2011/12 season undefeated, and have won the scudetto every season since. Their triumphs have of course been predicated by their status as Italy’s largest club, as well as their financial prowess, but there has been additional factors. Like Inter, much of Juve's success is owed to the fact that Conte remained in charge for several seasons, moulding the squad to match his system. Unlike Inter, however, Juventus decided to rebuild with a focus on pragmatism rather than the star-laden approach that created the long-term financial issues which Inter now face. The likes of Arturo Vidal, Kwadwo Asamoah, and Stephan Lichtsteiner may not have had the same cachet as Ibrahimovic—who left Bianconeri after their relegation—but they've arguably had a bigger impact in the long run. Their new stadium is a perfect example of this forward-facing approach, and is one which the rest of Italy must look to follow if the country is to return to its pre-Calciopoli status. For Inter, the return of Mancini and the hopefully stable ownership Erick Thohir sets them up well to follow Juve’s example, but to what degree they will remains to be seen. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

JUVENTUS - INTER - Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Kovacic: Inter Working Hard Ahead Of Juventus Match Dec 30, 2014 Inter midfielder Mateo Kovacic has revealed that the Biscione have started working hard since their return from the holiday break as they prepare to begin their 2015 Serie A run against Juventus on January 6. The Nerazzurri will have to be at their best against a tough Bianconeri side in Turin, but will first be playing their final match of 2014 in a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday, which the 20-year-old admits will be a fun challenge for the San Siro outfit. Kovacic spoke to Inter Channel on Monday about the friendly with PSG and the upcoming clash with Juventus, while also commenting on how he spent his holiday and his hopes for 2015. “Today we are a bit tired as we’ve only recently returned, but tomorrow we will play a great game for fun,” said the Croatian international. “My holiday? I ate with my family in Croatia. The days passed a bit too quickly, but we are all happy to be back. “Everyone has been doing their job and working hard since our return, as we have to stay in shape for the big game against Juventus once the league starts back up. “PSG? We must be careful tomorrow. They’re currently playing to win the Champions League and they’re strong, so we must be careful, but we’ll have fun. “Will 2015 be the year of Kovacic? We can only hope so.” http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

When Andrea Barzagli will be back healthy is still a complete mystery to everybody Dec 30, 2014 The folks who run the production side over at SB Nation recently upgraded their photo search tool. That, in turn, gives us folks who author post after post on a daily basis a much bigger selection of pictures, many of which we haven't able to use or even see, well, ever. We can go back years, find cool photos we've never had access to and then show them off to all of you faithful readers. Recent photos of Andrea Barzagli in Juventus' most recent edition of their fabled black and white stripes don't exist. For that matter, pictures of Barzagli in a Juve jersey can't be found unless you're looking in the May 2014 edition of the photo tool. Barzagli hasn't been seen in an official game since Italy were crashing out of the World Cup in Brazil. It's been even longer since he wore a Juventus jersey in a match (the 1-0 win over Roma at the Olimpico last May). No photo options for the man who cost so little yet has meant so much to Juventus' rebirth — and we don't know when the next chance to see Barzagli in black and white will be. Mike Mac @mikemacaroni giornalaccio rosa say Barzagli won't be back until at least mid-February. He's been out since June and is looking more and more like Simone Pepe... The non-emoji reaction is that it's pretty dang hard to come close to disagreeing at this point. Barzagli missed a large chunk of last season, has yet to play in the current campaign, and the rumored date of his return keeps getting pushed back time and time again more than a baseball game in a classic rain delay. First it was the original diagnosis of three months after surgery in July. Then it was pushed back. Then pushed back again. Now it's to the point where the Barzagli-related medical updates are few and far between. So basically we're left to wait. I sure hope you're all comfortable, folks. But with as many games, weeks and months as Barzagli has missed over the last season or so, it's hard to be all that patient at this point. Not to any fault of Barzagli himself, though. It's not like he's sitting in the Juventus training room right now just absolutely cursing his physical ailments on purpose. There's only so much he can do as he attempts to recover from the handful of setbacks he's dealt with over the last 18 months. Barzagli isn't young — he'll turn 34 years old in early May. It's not like time is suddenly going to be on his side whenever he does get completely healthy. Yet the matter of getting 100 percent fit is still to be determined. He's obviously isn't the only Juventus player to get injured this season. Nor will he be the last. But even with Juventus having the best defense in Serie A — again — this season, seeing Barzagli not included in the team sheet week after week is still tough to wrap my head around. To go from one of the best yet still vastly underrated defenders in all of Europe to a player who may or may not be back in a month or two must be Thank goodness Martín Cáceres is around to fill the awesomeness void. Oh, wait, he's currently hurt, too. Thank goodness Leonardo Bonucci and Angelo Ogbonna are around and playing quite well this season. There, that's a little better than talking about more injuries to central defenders.

JUVENTUS - INTER - Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 - 21:00 PM Juventus stadium, Turin Referee: Luca Banti Inter provide serious threat to Juventus - Lippi The Nerazzurri performed poorly during the first half of the season but the former Italy coach expects Roberto Mancini's men to cause the league leaders problems on January 6. Dec 30, 2014 Inter could derail Juventus’ Scudetto push when the two sides meet upon Serie A’s resumption, according to Marcello Lippi. The 2006 World Cup-winning boss, who coached both clubs, says that the return of Roberto Mancini has added a new dimension to the Nerazzurri, who travel to Turin on January 6. Indeed, Lippi firmly believes that even though Inter sit 11th in the table, the San Siro side could well upset the Italian champions. “It will be a great match, a wonderful proposition," the 66-year-old told Tuttosport. “Mancini has already begun to turn around Inter. His team is growing, and while they are still alternating between good and bad moments, they have more enthusiasm and new motivation. “They showed in the second half of their last match against Lazio that they have fighting qualities.” Lippi added that Inter have more to fight for in the Derby d'Italia than simply the chance to claim a win over the league leaders, arguing that Mancini's men can still challenge for a Champions League berth. “The clash with Juventus will be very important in terms of the standings for both sides,” he continued. “But it is also key for the Nerazzurri’s psychological state in particular, because Inter can still make a run for third place in the championship. “Like Napoli, Milan and Fiorentina, they will see that the spot is very much open.” Despite their lowly position, Inter lie only six points behind third-placed Lazio. http://www.goal.com/en/results-standings/69/italy-serie-a/table?ICID=SP_TN_111

Allegri: "Martin Montoya is a good defender" Dec 29, 2014 Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has praised the qualities of Barcelona defender Martin Montoya. The Italian champions have been strongly linked with a move for the Spanish right-back over the last couple of weeks. However, despite revealing that he admirers the defender, Allegri has said that there is currently no deal currently in place to take Montoya to Turin. "Montoya is a good defender and he has good technique. But he still plays for Barcelona and there are other players in our sights to consider," he told reporters. Liverpool are understood to have failed with a late move for the right-back.

Juninho: 'Pirlo a free kick artist' Dec 29, 2014 Juninho Pernambucano assured Andrea Pirlo is “the professor, an artist of the free kick who deserves the Ballon d’Or.” The Brazilian remains one of the greatest free kick specialists of all time and spoke to Tuttosport about the current crop. “Pirlo is a reference point for all free kick takers,” Juninho told Tuttosport. “He is a professor, an artist of the free kick who has reached the top. I am not surprised that Leo Messi studies his set pieces. “Andrea is the one all the world looks to. It would only be right if before the end of his career he could lift the Ballon d’Or. He deserves it.” Juninho used to train with his former Lyon teammate Miralem Pjanic, who is now scoring regularly for Roma. “Pjanic is still young, but can improve so much. We used to spend a long time practising together, so I expect him to become more decisive in free kicks from a wider angle too.” Juninho named Clement Grenier of Lyon, Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale and Roma captain Francesco Totti as his other favourite free kick takers.

Injured Kwadwo Asamoah refuses to travel to Ghana for holidays; remains in Italy to speed up recovery Injured Juventus star Kwadwo Asamoah refused to travel to Ghana for holidays as he bids to fasten his recovery. Dec 28, 2014 Asamoah has been missing in action for Italian champions Juventus after undergoing a knee surgery late last month. The 26-year-old was given an all clear to join his family for the Christmas but declined. The Ghana international decided to stay with the medics at Juventus in a bid to speeding up his recovery. “He hasn’t been home for Christmas and it doesn’t look like he will be coming home for the New Year,” a close pal to the player told Ghana’s number one site GHANASoccernet.com. “He wants to get over the injury as soon as possible and has decided to remain in Italy instead of coming home.” Asamoah is expected to be back in training in February 2015.

Agnelli 'against' foreign investment Dec 28, 2014 Juventus President Andrea Agnelli again demanded a revamp of Serie A stadiums, but is “against” foreign investment. The patron spoke in Dubai at the Globe Soccer Forum today, reiterating points he has made in the past on the need for an infrastructure overhaul. “Italian football needs to recover, including Juventus despite good results and revenue,” said Agnelli. “We were the League of the world class players, now we are considered a transitory phase towards bigger things. “We cannot compete with those divisions who have very different structures. Our League’s stadiums are on average 64 years old and don’t hold up when compared to those who developed modern, more comfortable and fuller arenas.” However, Agnelli also recognises the financial crisis has hit Italian society hard and had a knock-on effect for its football clubs. “Chelsea sell their tickets for double the price of Juventus, while in Germany the average wage is much higher than in Italy, so it’s not just an issue of stadiums. Nonetheless, we must try to relaunch where we can. “Roma are about to take an important step by building their own stadium and more should follow suit.” Parma were bought out this month by Russian-Cypriot investors, while Inter are owned by Indonesian President Erick Thohir and Roma run by Americans. “I am against foreign investors whose projects might seem attractive at first, but then lose their sheen. We don’t want to see speculation on our clubs. We are in favour of medium-long-term projects that are serious. “Investments must be useful and build an added value to the club.”

Manchester United to move for Stephan Lichtsteiner Dec 27, 2014 Manchester United are reportedly keen on signing Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner on a free transfer next summer. The Swiss international will be out of contract at the Italian outfit in June and as it stands, talks over a new deal have stalled. A number of clubs have been linked with a move for the 30-year-old, but according to The Express, United are now at the head of the queue. Lichsteiner is one of the few specialist wing-backs in European football and it is understood that United boss Louis van Gaal is preparing to continue with a 3-5-2 formation next season. The former Lille defender has won three league titles and two Italian cups during his time in Turin.

Pogba Underlines Desire To Win Dec 27, 2014 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba highlighted his winning mentality and said he always wants to win no matter what sport he plays. The French prodigy has been a star performer for Juventus this season and has chipped in with four goals and two assists in 20 appearances. In an interview to Corriere della Sera, the Frenchman about his desire to win, “I always want to win, even when I play ping pong. We have to think big as it’s all mental. “This Borussia Dortmund comes off from three back-to-back exceptional seasons but the game is not won before playing,” stated Pogba about the upcoming Champions League games against Dortmund. “With a little bit of luck and if we exploit the weaknesses of others something really special can happen.” Pogba also had words of praises for Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon, “Me an artist in football? There are so many before me. Andrea Pirlo and Gigi Buffon are the real artists.” The Bianconeri and their young midfielder star will be hoping to put behind the defeat to Napoli in the Supercoppa Italiana and return to winning ways when they host Inter at Juventus Stadium on January 6, 2015.

Juventus have been waiting for Coppa Italia glory for too long - Marotta The club director is eager to end their long wait for success in the tournament in 2015, as well as see a fourth successive Scudetto and a quarter-final spot in Europe. Dec 27, 2014 Juventus plan to end a 20-year wait to lift the Coppa Italia with victory in the competition this season, says director Beppe Marotta. The Serie A leaders will return from the mid-season break in January top of the table and on course for a fourth successive league title. Massimiliano Allegri's side are also in the last 16 of the Champions League, but Marotta has stressed the importance of winning the domestic cup competition. Juve have not lifted the cup since 1995 – when they beat Parma 3-0 over two legs – but they are determined to end that drought in 2015. "Our quest this year is the Italian Cup, the trophy we have been missing for far too long," he told La Gazzeta dello Sport. "Juve have an obligation to claim a fourth consecutive league title, as we had a duty to join in the second round of the Champions League. "And I think we have what it takes to reach at least the quarter-finals [in Europe]." Juve will make their bow in this season's Coppa Italia on January 15 when they face Verona in the round of 16.

Marotta: 'Allegri silenced doubters' Dec 27, 2014 Beppe Marotta said Max Allegri “proved the doubters wrong” at Juventus, but admits the Scudetto is “obligatory.” The director general spoke to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport about a tumultuous six months in Turin, as Conte resigned unexpectedly just one day into pre-season training. “Allegri proved the doubters wrong. We had to find ourselves a new Coach within 24 hours and Allegri also had to inherit a team formed by someone else,” said Marotta. “The group was fresh from success, but he also brought the best out of the Juventus solidity and professionalism. I’d give Allegri and Juventus eight out of 10 for the season so far. “Of course, a fourth consecutive Scudetto is obligatory for Juventus, but we also have what it takes to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. “We will sign a defender, though I don’t know yet whether it’s a centre-back or full-back.” When Marotta arrived at Juve from Sampdoria, the team was struggling in seventh place. “When we began this adventure, we never imagined reaching such results in a short space of time. The credit above all goes to Andrea Agnelli, who moulded Juve into a reference point for Italian football. “Agnelli also defended my work after a difficult first season. He was convinced of his choices and I was able to act autonomously. “I’d like to end my career at Juventus and do not see any alternatives right now.”

Allegri requests Shaqiri Dec 27, 2014 Max Allegri dropped hints that Juventus will try to sign Xherdan Shaqiri from Bayern Munich. “A trequartista wouldn’t go amiss.” The club has been repeatedly linked with a swoop for the Swiss international, who complained bitterly at the lack of playing time in Germany. “Who would I sign for January? Well, a trequartista wouldn’t go amiss in this squad...” Allegri told Tuttosport. Since moving to the 4-3-1-2 system, Arturo Vidal and Roberto Pereyra have taken the role behind the strikers, but they are not entirely suited to the position. Shaqiri’s contract with Bayern expires in June 2016 and he appears to have no intention of renewing. Tuttosport claims Juve have already met with Shaqiri’s agent – who is also his brother – but the Bianconeri want him on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season. The Swiss starlet is valued at €15m-€20m and is also of interest to Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Inter.

Juventus will sign a defender - Marotta The club's director general has confirmed they are set to reinforce defensively and could also move for a midfielder as they bid to reshape the side Dec 27, 2014 Juventus will be active in the January transfer window according to the club's director general Beppe Marotta, who revealed they are in the market for a defender. The Bianconeri are again in pole position in Serie A as they bid for a fourth consecutive Serie A title, but there will be no complacency in Turin with Roma hot on their heels. Coach Massimiliano Allegri replaced Antonio Conte in July but Alvaro Morata was the only signing he made over the summer and a new defender is now the former Milan boss's priority as he begins to reshape the side in his vision. Marotta told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport: "We will definitely sign a defender, but we're still considering whether to sign a full-back or a centre-back. "Max (Allegri) is a different coach to [Antonio] Conte but has had to adapt to the squad that he found when he got here. To fully develop his work it is logical he needs to find his missing pieces. "I won't mention any names at this stage but for sure we will hunt for the right opportunity. It is not easy because we can't deviate from certain economic parameters. Let's see and observe, we're scouting 24 hours a day." Marotta was also asked whether Juve could look to add a further attacker to their ranks in a bid to ease the creative burden on Carlos Tevez. "A lot will depend on what we decide to do with [sebastian] Giovinco," he replied. Juve have won 12 of their opening 16 Serie A games, losing once, while scoring 34 goals and conceding just seven times - the best defensive record in the division.