Socrates

Evra to Juve tomorrow Jul 18, 2014 It’s reported Patrice Evra has finally agreed to join Juventus from Manchester United. According to Sky Sport Italia, the player’s contract will be deposited with the Lega Serie A on Saturday. There had been concerns Evra would pull out of the move after the sudden departure of Coach Antonio Conte. However, the French international defender seems convinced the project will remain intact even with Massimiliano Allegri at the helm. Juve are expected to pay €2m in order to buy Evra from Manchester United. Alvaro Morata is also due to sign from Real Madrid tomorrow for €18m.

Juve await Evra answer Jul 18, 2014 Max Allegri has apparently looked to reassure Patrice Evra over joining Juventus, and the club now await his final decision. The Old Lady were on track to sign the France international from Manchester United this week and were even seen as having agreed a two-year contract paying €3.5m a season with the player. However, Antonio Conte’s surprise exit apparently saw Evra request some time to think over the deal, amid doubts over the club’s new direction. Tuttosport lead assertions that new Coach Allegri has looked to intervene and has spoken to Evra on the phone to reassure him of the club’s interest in him. This move was also reportedly taken with Alvaro Morata and is seen as having unlocked that particular deal. With Evra, it is believed that completion of the deal or not remains in the 33-year-old’s hands and that Juve await his final decision.

New Juventus Coach Reaches Out To Man United Defender Over Potential Move Jul 17, 2014 New Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has reportedly contacted Manchester United defender Patrice Evra over a possible move to the Bianconeri this summer. Allegri was only appointed Juve coach on Tuesday after Antonio Conte’s shock departure and it appears that the new tactician is keen to land the 33-year-old from the English Premier League giants. Sky Sport Italia reports that Allegri called Evra on Wednesday night and told the veteran left-back that it would still be worthwhile for him to join the Bianconeri. The Frenchman was expected to join Juventus until Conte left the Turin club and the Frenchman wants clarity on Juve’s coaching scenario before going ahead with a move. Evra was in France’s World Cup squad during the 2014 World Cup and played in four matches for Les Bleus as Didier Deschamps’ team reached the quarter-finals, losing to eventual World Cup winners Germany. The veteran left-back has played in Italy in the past for Marsala as well as Monza.

Van Gaal to let duo leave Jul 17, 2014 It is reported that new Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal is prepared to allow Patrice Evra and Nani to leave the club. The duo have been targeted by Juventus and Milan respectively in recent times and it appears the Dutchman, who staged his first Press conference as Red Devils manager today, would not stand in the way of either player joining the Bianconeri or Rossoneri. According to English newspaper Daily Mail, Evra and Nani are merely two of a long list of players who Van Gaal has deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.

Evra has signed for Juve? Jul 13, 2014 Italian sources claim Patrice Evra already put pen to paper for Juventus and will salute Manchester United. The French full-back is widely expected to make the move to Turin for around €2m (£1.6m) with a two-year contract worth €3.5m (£2.8m) per season. According to Sky Sport Italia, Evra met with Juve lawyers on Saturday night in Los Angeles and signed the deal. Before making it official, he wishes to write an open letter to Manchester United fans, explaining his reasons for this exit after eight years at Old Trafford. As Evra is fresh from France’s World Cup campaign, he won’t join up with his new Bianconeri teammates until the end of the month.

Man Utd let Evra leave Jul 10, 2014 Tuttosport claim Manchester United have given Patrice Evra the all-clear to join Juventus. The defender reportedly put in an unofficial transfer request this week and it seems United’s final attempts to change his mind have failed. According to Tuttosport, Evra will arrive over the next few days to complete a medical and sign a two-year contract worth €3.5m per season. The left-back has been at Old Trafford for eight years, but wants the switch for personal reasons. It will be a return to Italy for Evra, as the Frenchman started his career at Marsala in 1998-99 and Monza in 1999-00. Juventus are also said to be on the verge of securing striker Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid for €18m plus add-ons.

Evra wants Juventus move Jul 10, 2014 It is reported that Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has asked to leave the club in order to join Juventus. The French international only recently signed a one-year extension to his contract at Old Trafford. However, since his return from this summer’s World Cup he has been heavily linked with a move to Turin. According to reports yesterday, the Old Lady made an official approach to the Red Devils to enquire as to the player’s availability. Now, BBC Sport say the 33-year-old has himself contacted United officials to request a move away. He has, however, stopped short of submitting a formal transfer request.

Juventus close on Evra Jul 10, 2014 It’s reported Juventus are prepared to offer €2.5m for Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Their interest in the Frenchman is well known, but The Independent newspaper claims to know the figures of the proposal. The price-tag would be €2.5m (£2m) plus a contract worth €3.5m per season (£3m). Italian media see considerably smaller sums circulating, particularly for the wages. La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport gives the transfer fee at closer to €2m (£1.6m).

Juve make Evra approach Jul 10, 2014 It is widely reported in English media that Juventus have made an official approach to Manchester United for Patrice Evra. It has been said in recent days that the French international defender has already agreed personal terms with the Old Lady, despite having only recently signed a one-year contract extension at Old Trafford. All that seems to remain before a deal can be completed is for the two clubs to agree on a fee for the 33-year-old. According to reports this afternoon, this has moved a step closer to becoming a reality after Juve officials made contact with their Red Devils counterparts. A formal bid is said to be forthcoming.

Evra to join Juventus after declining Manchester United stay The France international left-back has agreed a two-year deal with the Serie A champions and has decided against remaining at Old Trafford under new boss Louis van Gaal. Jul 10, 2014 Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra is set to complete a €3.5 million move to Juventus after agreeing a two-year deal with the club, Goal understands. The France international signed a new one-year extension with United in May with the understanding he would compete for the position with €38 million-arrival Luke Shaw. Juve's renewed interest, however, which emerged earlier this week, convinced him to reluctantly leave Old Trafford. The Italian giants will match his €125,000-a-week-plus wages as a combination of Champions League football, as well as family reasons, have seen him decline the opportunity to remain in Manchester under new boss Louis van Gaal. Dutchman Van Gaal, who is set to begin his duties as the Premier League club's new manager in the coming days, was reluctant to lose a player of Evra's experience from his defence and even matched Juve's two-year contract offer. But Evra, who joined United back in January 2006 from Ligue 1 club Monaco, is keen to embark on a new adventure in Serie A, where he will follow former United skipper Nemanja Vidic, who has signed for Inter on a free transfer. Juventus have also been tracking Manchester City centre-back Matija Nastasic although were rebuffed by the Premier League champions after making an enquiry in recent days. However, Juventus have acquired Juan Iturbe for a fee of €27m and are also set to announce the signing of Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid.

Evra weighing up Juventus contract offer The signing of Luke Shaw has placed the Frenchman's status as Manchester United's first-choice left-back under threat and he is now considering an offer from the Serie A champions. Jul 9, 2014 Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra is currently weighing up an offer from Serie A champions Juventus, Goal can confirm. Juventus began negotiations with Evra in May and offered the France international a two-year deal, with talks understood to have been positive despite the contract on offer less than his €113-a-week salary. However, the 33-year-old appeared to have ended speculation over his future by subsequently signing a one-year extension to remain at Old Trafford. The signing of England international Luke Shaw, whom United have made the most expensive teenager in world football with a €200,000-a-week salary, though, has placed Evra’s position as Louis van Gaal’s first-choice left-back under severe threat. Juventus have since reignited their interest in the player who is now considering whether to end his eight-year association with the Premier League club. Meanwhile, Juventus have seen an approach for Manchester City's centre-back Matija Nastasic rebuffed by the Premier League champions. The 21-year-old Serbia international struggled with form and fitness during his second season at the club and lost his place to the more experienced Martin Demichelis. Manuel Pellegrini is determined to increase his central defensive options this summer and has made the signing of Roma's Medhi Benatia his priority after the deal to sign Porto's Eliaquim Mangala ran into complications. Despite his continued interest in Morocco international Benatia, Pellegrini is unwilling to sanction the departure of Nastasic who joined the club from Fiorentina two years ago.

Juve to seal Evra today? Jul 8, 2014 Juventus are speculated as pushing to reach an agreement with Manchester United today for Patrice Evra. Despite the 33-year-old signing a one-year contract extension at Old Trafford at the end of last season, United’s decision to bring in Luke Shaw has re-opened the doors for Evra. It is understood that recent weeks have seen Juventus come back into the picture and even reach agreement with the France international on an initial two-year contract worth in the region of €3.5m per season. A deal is yet to be struck between the Bianconeri and Red Devils and this is where both the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport and Tuttosport focus today’s reports. The pink paper indicate that Juve are pushing to seek resolution on the possible deal today, but are unwilling to pay any more than €1.5m. Meanwhile, the Turin daily believe that today will see the player’s entourage due in London and possibly in line for imminent talks with United. It is understood that Evra has instructed his agent to accept Juventus’ offer out of the desire to maintain first-team football, including at Champions League level.

Juve have Evra agreement, but… Jul 4, 2014 Juventus reportedly have personal terms agreed with Patrice Evra, whilst his agent arrives in Brazil to work out a possible move from Manchester United. Juve were linked with the France international heading into the summer, as he approached the final few months of his contract at Old Trafford. Whilst signing a one-year renewal in late May looked to have ended such speculation, reports of late have placed Evra’s future as back under contention. It is seen that the Bianconeri have reignited their pursuit of the 33-year-old followed the Premier League side’s purchase of Luke Shaw. Reports are that Juve have already reached provisional agreement with the player on personal terms, that he is open to the move and that his agent has now arrived in Rio to meet with him to work out the next steps. However, it is understood that a move is no formality, as Evra first wants to clarify his potential role under new manager Louis van Gaal and that his attachment to Manchester United remains ‘strong’. The giornalaccio rosa dello Sport also suggest the two clubs have a way to go in negotiations, with Juve apparently prepared to pay no more than €2m and United after no less than €4m.

Juve missed out on Evra May 27, 2014 Juventus reportedly missed out on the chance to sign Patrice Evra, apparently due to a couple of reasons. The French full-back ended the season amid increasing reports that he would walk away from Manchester United. With his contract due to expire at the end of June, both Inter and Juventus were linked with interest in the 33-year-old, until the weekend saw him commit to a new one-year extension at Old Trafford. Sky Sport Italias Gianluca Di Marzio has explained that Juventus did miss out on signing the international, for two reasons. Specifically, early uncertainty this month over Antonio Contes future at the club was seen as having caused Evra to hesitate, whilst the Old Lady is seen as having failed to demonstrate to the player that they were interested enough in securing his services. It was a duel situation that was apparently enough for Evra to stick with United and exercise a one-year renewal clause in his existing contract.

Ma anche Asamoah mi sembra avere un carattere simile a Pereyra eppure si esprime in campo come un leone. Lo stesso potrebbe succedere anche a Pereyra alla Juve, sempre che venga veramente visto che c'é anche l'Inter che sta cercando di prenderlo.

Who is Max Allegri? Taking a look at the new Juventus manager Jul 20, 2014 It is hard to believe that a week ago I was eagerly waiting for Juventus' preseason, and now I am writing a piece on a new manager. But so it goes, and not that I have had a couple of days to mourn (rue?) the loss of the man that brought trophies back to Turin, it is time to get to know the new coach, Massimiliano Allegri. After all, unless something catastrophic happens, Allegri will be at the helm until next May. Let me preface this article by saying that I am no Allegri expert and that all that I will write is information that I got from Transfermarkt or other Internet sources. In other words, I just did a little Internet stocking to make sure my beloved Old Lady was in ok hands for the time being. A little history Allegri was born in 1967 in Livorno. He played professionally since he was 17 years old for a number of clubs ranging from Livorno to Pescara, Perugia, and Napoli (a total of 13 clubs in his professional career). He played as a midfielder and scored 56 goals during his 19 year career. He retired from professional football in 2003 when he was playing for Aglianese. He started his coaching career also at Aglianese (in Serie C2 at the time) and since then has coached seven other clubs including Juventus. In 2007, Allegri coached Sassuolo to promotion to Serie B for the first time in their history — as an aside, the more I read about Sassuolo the more I respect them as a club, but I digress. He then coached Cagliari from 2008 to 2010 where he won the Panchina d'Oro in his first season as manager. During his second season he was sacked despite earning Cagliari 40 points. I remember that rumors at that time were that Milan's interest in Allegri were not well received by the Cagliari management who decided to sack him after relegation was mathematically avoided. At Milan he had mixed reviews, two good seasons, and then one-and-a-half terrible one. During his first season he won the scudetto and on his second season he came in second, vowing out to an impressive Juve side. Things went south from there, but he was able to get Milan to third place on his third season, not a bad feat considering his poor start. His best years were when Milan had the best squad in Serie A, with players such as Ibrahimovic, Nesta, Pirlo, and Cassano we conquered Serie A. Slowly, Galliani started to sell and/or let go of these stars, starting with Pirlo in 2011, Ibra, Silva, and Nesta in 2012 and so on. If you compare squads, Juve's scudetto team of 2011 was at least equally as good as Milan's, but the rossoneri were playing in Europe at the time. I am by no means trivializing our first scudetto of the Conte era, I am just trying to put into context Allegri's supposed failure to beat Juventus in 2011. What formation does he play? This is a harder question to answer. When Conte came to Juve, it was clear that the 4-4-2 was going to be the starting formation for the coach. Allegri on the other hand has tried almost any formation under the sun. Before he arrived at Milan, he was known for playing a 4-3-1-2 formation at Cagliari. During the scudetto year, he played a similar formation with Cassano or Boateng in the trequartista position. The following year, it was expected Aquilani and Boateng played the trequartista role. In addition to the 4-3-1-2, he has played a 4-3-2-1 and even the 4-3-3 at Milan. With the likely arrival of Patrice Evra, Allegri can easily have a four-man backline at his disposal. It may not be a bad idea to keep De Ceglie as a substitute to Evra, unless Marotta has another left-back in mind. Of course, if Allegri wants to revive Ziegler's career at Juve, or give some minutes to Matteo Liviero, the 21-year-old left-back from the Juventus youth ranks. Our right and center back positions have plenty of depth and quality for anything Allegri will throw at them. As for Allegri's three-man midfield, it remains a mystery. At Milan, Allegri used a midfield that focuses most on breaking play rather than creating play. Gatusso, van Bommel, Boateng, Nocerino, and Muntari were starters under Allegri. With that being said, players such as Montolivo and Aquilani also found some room in midfield from time to time. At Juve, Allegri has the advantage of having players who can break play effectively but that can also create. A midfield with three of Pogba, Vidal, Marchisio, or Asamoah will no doubt be a wall hard to penetrate. Most importantly, these players can also create play and be very dangerous. In a contest of technical ability, Pogba, Vidal, Marchisio, Asamoah, and Pirlo easily come out on top of Boateng, Montolivo Nocerino, van Bommel, Gatusso, and Muntari. The trequartista position is a tricky one. Pirlo has played that role in the past and may be where Allegri sees him at Juve. He will have no defensive duties there and will be given room to roam. Giovinco also has experience playing that role but has been disappointing to say the least. Coman and Morata are wild cards at the moment, they both may be excellent at that position but they also may fail. Personally, I don't see either of them playing that role effectively but I'll be happy to stand corrected. Current rumors are that Juventus are looking at Jovetic, Lamela, or Shaqiri. Although they may succeed linking midfield and attack, I prefer to discuss the players on the roster. Up front, Tevez and Llorente are sure starters who shouldn't have any problem playing a 4-3-1-2. Playing a 4-3-2-1 will be equally as easy given the current squad. Other formations such as the 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 will require more personnel who may come during the transfer market. However, these are mercato talks that may or may not materialize so I'll stop there. What do I expect from Allegri? This is my personal opinion, nothing else, nothing more. I expect Allegri to play a four-man backline, to have a slow start to the season, to win some games tactically, to qualify for Champions League next year, to develop youngsters and get to the quarterfinals in Europe. The four-man backline is easy, he has used it successfully in the past and he has the players to do it. Having a slow start to the season: Allegri is a coach that takes time to get his teams going. In his first year at Milan, Allegri collected five points in his first four games (first month). During the next three months he only lost twice and drew once. On his second season he also had only five points from his first four games. Afterwards he only drew twice and lost once in the subsequent three months. For this reason, I think it will be an error to judge Allegri by his first month. it will be best to make up our minds when December rolls around. Tactical know how: Allegri is a good tactician. He is no Lippi, but he is also no Ferrara. I've been reviewing Milan blogs and there was plenty of praise for Allegri's substitutions on his first two seasons. I think that with the team he has at hand, and the tactical variations available to him, Allegri should be able to outwit many coaches in Serie A and Europe. Qualifying for Champions League:Juventus easily have a top-three team in Italy. Sure, Roma, Napoli, and Fiorentina look threatening, but it is likely that at least on of these teams will self-destroy before Juve. My main concern will be Allegri's ability to beat small teams. This has been Juve's strength over the last three years. Achieving 102 points in a season shows that Conte prepared his team to beat down even the most stubborn defenses. I personally don't think Allegri has that in him. With a team like Roma that went undefeated for half a season, it may cost us dearly. My only hope is that Conte taught his team to never give up, and that Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Vidal, and Tevez can transmit that attitude to the rest of the team. Developing youngsters: Allegri did wonders with El Shaarawy and De Sciglio. Sure those players are immensely talented but I don't know if Conte would have allowed them to play such a role at Juve. I think the management has made clear to Allegri that Juventus will buy young players and that it is his job to incorporate them to the team. I hope Coman, Morata and any other player that comes to Juve gets more of a chance under Allegri. Conclusion It is pointless to continue naming Conte in our discussions. He is gone and belongs in Juve's history no doubt. It is now time to buckle up and support our new coach through thick and thin for the season to come. He has the tools to have a successful season, and he has the know how to battle on all three fronts. With the support of the management, and the professionalism of our players, I hope that he can start a new cycle with us.

Nedved: Chiellini Behaved Like A Child After Being Bit By Suarez Jul 20, 2014 Juventus director Pavel Nedved has voiced his comments on the bite-saga involving Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini and Uruguay and Barcelona forward Luis Suarez. The World Cup saw a lot of good football, but also its fair shown of unwanted events. The recently concluded tournament will be infamously remembered for ex-Liverpool forward Luis Suarez biting Giorgio Chiellini in a group match involving Uruguay and Italy. Shockingly, it was the third time Suarez had committed this act of aggression. The incident took place during the dying embers of the match. Suarez fell down after committing the act and the Juventus defender understandably went to the referee to show the bite mark on his shoulder. However, Juventus director and ex-player, Pavel Nedved has voiced his anger at Chiellini’s reaction and said that he behaved like a child when the incident occured. Nedved did praise the player for being mature over the next days and asking FIFA to reduce the player’s four month footballing ban. “I was very angry with Chiellini for his reaction, as he behaved like a child showing the bite mark to the referee,” Nedved told Denik Sport. “I talked about it with Beppe Marotta and I’ll discuss it with him directly. In any case, Giorgio showed intelligence over the next few days when he asked FIFA to reduce the ban. The ex-Czech international went on to praise Suarez’s footballing abilities and called him a ‘great player and a ‘champion’. He even said that Juventus were close to signing him two years ago. He continued by further defending him and saying he is knows what its like as a player and understands a ‘little tantrum’. “Suarez is a great player and I’d sign him straight away for Juventus. In fact, we were on the verge of getting him two years ago and I was fully in agreement. He’s a champion and that is all. I have played on the pitch, so I know what it’s like to have a little tantrum.” Suarez was banned from all football related activities for four months after his ban for this act. The 27 year old has completed his switch from Liverpool to Barcelona for a reported sum of £75m, as transfer was not part of the list under the sub-clause of ‘administrative ban’ imposed by the governing body. His ban however, has stopped the La Liga club from unveiling him officially as their new number 9.

Why the allergic reaction to Allegri is not healthy The former AC Milan coach was greeted with supporter protests after taking charge at Juventus but his credentials prove he can lead them to another Scudetto. Jul 20, 2014 Such was the turn of events in Turin last week that to call it a shock would be a heavy understatement. Antonio Conte began preparations for his fourth pre-season with Juventus but by the end of its first day he had resigned. Within a couple of days, all hell broke loose when former AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri was appointed in his place on a two-year deal – one that was greeted with heavy protests from fans. Given the way the 46-year old was shown the door at Milan, it was rather expected. Given the Rossoneri’s record during his final few months last season, it seems partly justified. But only partly. Milan have been in decline since that mini-revival back in the 2010-11 season when, during Allegri's first campaign in charge, they lifted their first Scudetto since 2004 - breaking Inter's hegemony in the process. Back then, there were credits galore for the former Cagliari boss, who was praised for handling a dressing room full of stars pretty effectively despite it being his first big club assignment. Sending Ronaldinho packing was a brave but correct decision given the Brazilian's decline as a footballer, while replacing Andrea Pirlo in favour of more hard-hitting midfielders like Massimo Ambrosini and Mark van Bommel made sense to critics and fans alike. His first mistake? Concluding that Pirlo was no longer the player he used to be. In hindsight, given the Italian's performances for both Juventus and Italy since that episode, Allegri has been fairly criticised in some quarters. But there were few dissenting voices at the time. Pirlo had not played a key role for Milan that season and, coupled with his injuries, he did look like a player who was past his best. Milan finished runners-up in his second season, with certain events taking place that were out of Allegri's control. An error in judgement by the referee robbed Sulley Muntari of his goal against Juventus and directly tilted the race in Juve's favour, who then went undefeated to rightly lift their first Scudetto since the Calciopoli scandal in 2006. Since then, the seven-time European champions have been catastrophic both on and off the field and Allegri has unfortunately become the face of that failure. When you rob your head coach of players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva and yet ask him to remain competitive, what happened with Allegri towards the end of his Milan tenure becomes almost inevitable. Add to this the departure of a host of leaders like Clarence Seedorf, Pippo Inzaghi, Gennaro Gattuso and Alessandro Nesta - players who virtually bled the club's colours for more than a decade - and the life was sucked from San Siro. A club that once boasted one of the best European teams to have ever taken the field was now being represented by a handful of free signings, including Kevin Constant, Muntari, Cristian Zapata and Bakaye Traore among others. Yet what Allegri achieved under the tight constraints was commendable. Finishing third in the 2012-13 season behind Juventus and Napoli despite losing his best players was an achievement, one that he was never properly credited for. Instead, what he got was uncertainty over his future as the club continued their slide into mediocrity, pursuing summer transfer targets including Valter Birsa, Cristian Zaccardo and Alessandro Matri while rivals bought Carlos Tevez (Juventus), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Mario Gomez (Fiorentina), Kevin Strootman (Roma) and Giuseppe Rossi (Fiorentina). Despite enjoying a rather fruitful end to the 2012-13 season deploying a 4-3-3, Allegri was forced to revert back to the much outdated 4-3-1-2 by Silvio Berlusconi – a decision suited more to accommodate his vision rather than that of the coach. A fair share of injuries to star players such as Stephan El Sharaawy, who was instrumental when fit, and captain Riccardo Montolivo played their part but that went unnoticed as Milan under Allegri continued to rot. Allegri's failure mirrored the sorry state of the club, not of his own standards. He was a scapegoat who was sacrificed while the club's hierarchy continued their mismanagement. Allegri's achievements before Milan must not be forgotten, either. He was responsible for Sassuolo's rise to Serie B back in the 2007-08 season, before leading Cagliari to a ninth-placed finish in the 2008-09 which also won him the prestigious Panchina d'Oro – an award handed over to the best Serie A coach and voted by his contemporaries in the division. That he beat Jose Mourinho – the self-proclaimed 'Special One' who won the Scudetto in his first season in charge of Inter – made it even more special. "I have explained a thousand times, in the end it just happened. The club, Andrea and I met and he decided to join Juventus and now I am lucky enough to link up with him again after three years. - Massimiliano Allegri" Maybe Allegri wasn't the best option for Juventus – more so given the Bianconeri's thirst for European glory and his own dubious record in the Champions League during his three-and-a-half years with Milan. He is perhaps a step down given the high standards set by his predecessor, who ruled the club from the heart, but he does not deserve the light in which he has been cast in recent days. Give him a good team and he can win the Scudetto - he showed that at Milan, and he could prove it with Juve. Sell your best players and he will still make his team punch above its weight. With speculation rife regarding the futures of both Paul Pogba and Arturo Vidal – the two most vital pieces in the Bianconeri midfield – Juventus have surely considered his ability to manage with a team under a tight budget, something that Conte wasn't willing to adjust to. There is a reason why Allegri was in the running for the job at Roma last summer before Milan tied him to a new deal, why he was a favourite to succeed Cesare Prandelli as the head coach of the Italian national team. There is a reason why Milan hired him in the first place back in 2010 and why Juventus were quick to sign him despite the fact it would irk star man Pirlo.

http://www.tuttosport.com/video/calcio/2014/07/17-77856/L%27addio+di+Conte+diventa+una+parodia

Nedved: 'Only Allegri or Mancini' Jul 20, 2014 Pavel Nedved confirms “there were only two candidates” for the Juventus bench: Max Allegri and Roberto Mancini. Antonio Conte’s sudden departure two days into pre-season training, which Nedved put down to “fatigue,” forced Juventus to find a new Coach and they picked Massimiliano Allegri. “We had to react very quickly after his resignation,” Juve director Nedved told Denik Sport in the Czech Republic. “It was very tough, as we were sad to see him go, but there were only two candidates: Allegri and Mancini. “Mancini had the option of becoming Italy Coach, so we reached an agreement with Allegri. He is a quality Coach and a winner.” Conte has been heavily linked with the vacant Azzurri bench, so Mancini could well be left without a job anyway. Nedved also revealed the reason Conte walked away was “fatigue. He was tired of everything. He’d already tried to resign in May, but we convinced him to think it over during the vacation. “I absolutely understand where he’s coming from, as the way he performs his duties is exhausting. He’s a stickler and doesn’t miss a single detail. “He works very intensively, so exhaustion was a natural result. We owe him so much, as in three years he won three Serie A titles. “We will definitely miss him very much and it does weaken us, but we had to deal with the situation and we chose Allegri.”

Marotta: 'Finalising more deals' Jul 19, 2014 Juventus director Beppe Marotta praised Alvaro Morata and promised “we are finalising other deals over the next few days.” The general manager spoke at the presentation Press conference for Morata, who arrived from Real Madrid for €20m. “Morata is a young player born in October 1992. He comes from Real Madrid and is one of the world’s best talents. “He won the European Under-21 Championship with Spain, winning the Golden Boot, took part in the recent Champions League victory and over seven seasons at Real Madrid has developed a winning mentality.” The transfer took longer than expected and the details are still not entirely clear. Juve paid €20m to take Morata, but Real Madrid have a buy-back option of up to €30m depending on the number of games he plays for the Bianconeri. “It was a very difficult negotiation process because Real Madrid wanted to keep him,” explained Marotta. “At the end of the day, his desire to come to Juventus won out. The player signed a five-year contract. For the first two years the player is entirely ours, then there is a very complicated contract that I won’t outline in its entirety here. “We have a very strong rapport with Real Madrid and will discuss it later along the line, but the fact he signed a five-year contract shows we are determined to keep him.” Marotta was naturally asked whether the transfer strategy had changed with Antonio Conte’s sudden departure, to be replaced by Massimiliano Allegri. “There is no revolution, even if the Coach changed. We don’t need massive changes, as this is a winning group that secured five trophies in three years between Scudetti and Super Cups. “Conte was a great leader, we worked with a great club and fans. We will try to work on the market finding the players who are the right mix of quality and price. “We are finalising some other deals and hope to announce them formally over the next few days.” Those are expected to be Roberto Pereyra from Udinese on loan with option to buy for €12m and Patrice Evra from Manchester United.

5 Things Massimiliano Allegri Must Do to Be Successful at Juventus Jul 18, 2014 This week has been shocking for Juventus and the club's fans. The team began preseason training on Monday, and less than a day later, the shocking announcement that coach Antonio Conte was parting ways with the club was made. Less than 24 hours after that, former AC Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri was introduced as the team's new manager. The true reason for Conte's departure from Juve is likely an amalgamation of several different factors. At this point, however, it's a discussion that will be full of conjecture and contradiction. Time will tell what really went on behind the scenes. It's a subject for another article. But while Juve's fans mourn the departure of the man who brought them three straight titles, the fact is that there is a season to prepare for. The Supercoppa Italiana against Napoli will be on August 23, and the Serie A season starts a week later. The team has to regroup and prepare to do its job. Allegri will also have to quickly adjust to his new surroundings and figure out how to be successful at Juve. What are some of the keys for him to keep Juventus on top of Italian soccer? Let's take a look at some. Mend Fences with Andrea Pirlo This may be what decides Juve's season. Can Allegri bury the hatchet with Andrea Pirlo, the man who he forced out at Milan three years ago? The story is well known by followers of the Italian game. He had spent 10 seasons leading AC Milan to two Champions League titles and two Scudetti, but after an injury-plagued 2010-11, the club thought he was finished. His contract with the club ran out, and Milan made no attempt to resign him. At best, Allegri did not advocate for his return. At worst, he helped push him out in favor of players like Massimo Ambrosini and Mark van Bommel. The results were disastrous for Milan. Pirlo jumped to Juve on a Bosman and turned in three of the most impressive seasons of his career. He added more Scudetti to his name in those three years than he had in 10 at the San Siro. Juve have gone 4-1-1 (W-L-D) in the league against the Rossoneri since the move and have eliminated them from the Coppa Italia twice. Pirlo has been instrumental in that success. Many point to his absence—through injury—from Juve's fateful loss to Galatasaray in December as one of the deciding factors in the team's group-stage crash-out in the Champions League. Allegri cannot marginalize Pirlo the way he did in their final season together in Milan. To do so would be suicidal. So far he has said all the right things. In a news conference (as translated by Goal.com) he said that he had "always enjoyed a great relationship with him [Pirlo]" and said "I can justifiably state that I've never called his qualities into question. Otherwise people could justifiably say that I am a fool." Pirlo, so far, has been silent. Allegri has his deficiencies as a manager, but he is no fool. He has to know how important Pirlo's influence is to this team. The maestro will almost certainly remain on the field, but will a toxic relationship behind the scenes torpedo the season? Allegri needs to take steps to make sure it doesn't. Keep Everyone Where They Belong One of the knocks on Allegri during his time at Milan was his willingness to play people out of position. He tried to convert midfielder Kevin Constant to left-back. The results left much to be desired, especially with Constant blocking the route of young starlet Mattia De Sciglio. Urby Emanuelson was another player who was moved around the field constantly. He played as a winger, a trequartista and a defensive midfielder in his time under Allegri. The squad Allegri inherits have, for the most part, clearly defined roles. Allegri must be sure not to disrupt those roles. There are a few players who Allegri might be tempted to shift. Angelo Ogbonna and Giorgio Chiellini both played left-back early in their careers—indeed, even under Conte on certain occasions. They are not, however, suited for playing that position long-term at this point in their careers. They need to be kept in the middle. Another tempting prospect would be to experiment with the talent of 19-year-old Kingsley Coman. The youngster comes from PSG on a Bosman and is an attacking midfielder by trade, with some experience on the wing. But he is far from a finished product, and tinkerer like Allegri could be tempted to try to mold him into a position he may not be suited for. Juve have been superbly successful in the three years this squad has been together. Allegri shouldn't disrupt that chemistry by trying to move people around. Don't Tinker Too Much with Tactics Allegri's penchant for tactical tinkering goes somewhat hand-in-hand with his tendency to tinker with positions. This tinkering, however, has produced some better results than his positional merry-go-round. Some of Allegri's tactical shifts have been spot-on. Adjustments he made for the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 against Arsenal in 2011-12 saw an unexpected 4-0 pummeling at the San Siro. At the same stage of the competition the next year, his tweaks resulted in a truly stunning 2-0 victory over Barcelona. It can be said that Allegri, like the ancient Carthaginian general Hannibal, knew how to win but not to use his victory. In 2012 Milan very nearly squandered that gigantic lead when they lost 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium. In 2013 they allowed Lionel Messi an early moment of brilliance and ended up losing the return leg 4-0. Even then, they were the width of the post away from taking a crucial away goal when the aggregate was standing at a flat-footed 2-2. Much of this tinkering, especially toward the end of his time at Milan, stemmed from the fact that he wasn't being supported by the club's directors with good players. Indeed, the Rossoneri were selling his best players off, forcing Allegri to improvise with a below-par team. Allegri shouldn't have that problem at Juventus. He also comes into a situation where the tactics and player roles have been very clearly defined and very successful. It's natural to see some tactical changes when a new manager arrives at a club. Allegri, however, should make sure those changes are minimal. He isn't an expert on Conte's 3-5-2, but Conte looked primed to switch back to the 4-3-3 after receiving new players on the transfer market. The conventional wisdom over the last few years has been that the 3-5-2 has flaws that won't allow it to compete with elite European competition. The recent World Cup, however, should challenge that notion. Several nations, including Mexico, Costa Rica, the Netherlands and on occasion Chile, put in impressive performances at the tournament playing formations that could switch efficiently between 5-3-2 and 3-5-2 depending on the situation. Allegri should look at the World Cup and re-evaluate whether the 3-5-2—which is still the best fit for the team as it is currently constituted—can compete at that level. If he decides not and wishes to go back to a four-man line, he'll need to wait for the proper personnel in the transfer market. Speaking of which... Salvage the Mercato You won't see many bad things said about Antonio Conte in this space, but one that you will hear is that the timing of his resignation was downright terrible. As late as Tuesday morning Juve was in pole position for landing Hellas Verona starlet Juan Iturbe to play the wing in a revamped tactical setup. Within hours of Conte's departure, Iturbe was sold to one of their biggest rivals to the title, Roma. Two other major transfer targets, Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata and Manchester United full-back Patrice Evra, have paused to re-evaluate the situation. Sky Sport have reported that Morata has already spoken with Allegri and is likely to complete his move (via Football Italia). Evra, on the other hand, seems to be more on the fence. The web site Give Me Sport has relayed a report from Tuttosport that Evra is looking to take a few days to reflect on things now that Conte is gone—although La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport (via Football Italia) have claimed that his negotiations are on course as well. The beginning of the transfer window has certainly gotten off to a rocky start. But now that Allegri is in the manager's chair, Juve have drawn up a new list of targets for the rest of Europe's silly season. The same Football Italia item names former Fiorentina man and Juve target Stevan Jovetic as a potential signing. Lucas Moura, Javier Pastore and Tottenham wantaway Erik Lamela are also mooted. So is PSG's Javier Pastore, a tormentor of the team when Palermo filled the role of Juve's bogey team in the mid 2000s. Allegri needs to convince potential targets that there won't be a drop-off in the team's quality under his stewardship. If he doesn't, a team that may have been one good window away from taking the next step will be set back several seasons—and he likely won't be around to see the result. Keep the Squad Healthy Fitness may be the worst aspect of Allegri's management. The injury history at Milan during his reign was horrific. Alexandre Pato went from one of the world's brightest young strikers to hardly ever being fit and exiled to Brazilian club Corinthians. Last year, bright young stars Mattia De Sciglio and Stephan El Shaarawy lost the majority of the season with various muscular injuries. They weren't the only ones. After Milan beat Barcelona in the Champions League two years ago, Allegri used Giampaolo Pazzini, the only striker he had who wasn't cup-tied, in a dull match against Genoa to try to force a result. Pazzini injured a muscle, forcing Allegri to use M'baye Niang at the Camp Nou. With the aggregate tied at two, the young Frenchman broke free behind the Barca defense—and crashed a shot into the post. Barca would score twice more and Milan would be eliminated. Shortly after Milan was eliminated from this year's Champions League, Allegri's successor, Clarence Seedorf, said to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport (h/t FIFA.com): "I've said more than once that the fitness levels I found here were not optimal. It's normal to struggle when you have are [sic] behind in fitness since the start of the season." A team can't be successful if its best players cannot play. Juve fans know what a selection crisis is like. Injuries and suspensions forced seven players to play six consecutive games at the height of the Europa League knockout stages, and the team was running on fumes by the end. Allegri was known for not rotating his squad at Milan—although he didn't have as deep a squad as he will be afforded at Juve. Still, he must keep the team healthy. If he doesn't Juve will be doomed—and he will once again be unemployed.

Allegri unveils Juve staff Jul 18, 2014 Max Allegri confirmed his coaching staff at Juventus, including many of them taken from his time at Milan. Allegri was appointed on Wednesday, taking over from Antonio Conte and changed much of the backroom staff too. His assistant manager will be Marco Landucci, who was Allegri’s second hand man at Cagliari and then worked at Milan as goalkeeping coach. Instead, Claudio Filippi is the goalkeeping coach at Juve, now in his fourth year at the club. Maurizio Trombetta is the first team coach, returning to a smaller role after jobs as Coach of Romanian clubs Cluj and Targu Mures. Simone Foletti is the fitness coach and Stefano Grani the physio, both reunited with Allegri after their time at Sassuolo, Cagliari and Milan. Roberto Sassi is the head of Training Check.

Benitez: Juve still the strongest Jul 18, 2014 Rafa Benitez says Antonio Conte’s exit doesn’t change Juventus’ status as the strongest in Serie A, whilst he reflects on Napoli’s preparations. The Vesuviani and others in the League have been handed a boost early into pre-season with the news this week of Conte’s exit from the Bianconeri after three successive title-winning campaigns. However, for the Partenopei’s Coach, talk of his team becoming new favourites for the Scudetto is premature. “I heard about the news, but I am thinking about my team. The squad of Juventus has always been the strongest and it will be again,” Benitez has told reporters today. “It does not change much, I do not think that we have become the favourites. Allegri is a strong Coach like Conte. “We will see what happens but their level will always be high.”