Socrates

Zabaleta: Tevez has joined a big club Jul 18, 2013 Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta has admitted that former teammate Carlos Tevez has joined 'a big club' in Juventus. The Argentine striker signed for the Bianconeri from the Citizens earlier this month in a €9m move. And the full-back has conceded that the goalscorer has gone to one of the best teams on the continent. “I wish Tevez the best for the future,” he told reporters. “Carlos has gone to a big club. “Juve are one of the best in Europe. “He spent seven years in England, but has done well wherever he's gone. “We are all going to miss him as a teammate, but transfers are just part of football.”

Lichtsteiner targets Scudetto treble Jul 18, 2013 Juventus may be favourites to win the Scudetto, but Stephan Lichtsteiner has underlined that they’ll have to fight for the championship. The Old Lady dominated Serie A last season and their impressive transfer campaign so far has underlined their billing as the team to beat in 2013-14. “It would be nice and important to achieve a third consecutive Scudetto, but it won’t be a walk in the park,” the Swiss international noted. “A lot of teams have improved their squads by buying new players and hiring excellent new Coaches,” he warned. “However, we ourselves have signed two very strong strikers in Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez and the others have also shown they’ve got the required quality. “We certainly have more solutions than we had last season.” Lichtsteiner was in action during the 7-0 friendly win on Wednesday where he was asked to work just as hard on the flank as he has over the last 24 months. “It is a tough role to play in because you have to run a lot, you never stop,” continued the former Lazio defender. “As a result, it is important that the Coach has the players he needs to rotate. It’s key that the Coach has the ability to freshen things up.” Lichtsteiner was also asked about the club’s Champions League prospects after reaching the final eight last season. “There are a lot of teams in Europe with incredible quality, but we have the strength to do well against them too. Saying that, the Champions League is a very difficult competition.”

Tevez: Too much hype and pressure at Manchester City The Argentina international, who left the Premier League runners-up for Italy this summer, thinks the club and their fans need to be more patient for success in Europe. Jul 18, 2013 Juventus striker Carlos Tevez says there was "way too much pressure" to succeed during his time at Manchester City. The 29-year-old ended his stay at the Etihad Stadium this summer, joining Serie A champions Juventus in June for a fee of around €12 million. City failed to progress out of the group stages of the Champions League in consecutive seasons and Tevez believes pressure played it's part. "Yes, there was way too much pressure,” Tevez told CNN. "It came from everyone - the club, the fans. I think that too much pressure just hurts the team. "What happened was that there was so much hype and pressure to be one of the giants of Europe and we didn't do it. "We dropped out in the first round of the Champions League on both occasions." Tevez, who failed to register a goal in Europe last season, despite netting 11 times and assisting a further eight goals for City in the Premier League, moved to Turin on a three-year deal.

Carlos Tevez nets in 7-0 win Jul 17, 2012 Former Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez scored on his debut for Italian champions Juventus in a 7-0 win against a local representative side. The Argentine converted Arturo Vidal's cross in the first half to add to Marco Motta's earlier strike. Mirko Vucinic and Alessandro Matri each scored two goals in the second half, with 18-year-old Federico Mattiello's goal completing the rout. Juve boss Antonio Conte praised his new players, as Tevez started upfront alongside fellow summer signing Fernando Llorente in a 3-5-2 formation. "I am happy," said Conte. "I was impressed by our first half performance and the way Ogbonna, Tevez and Llorente settled in." Tevez joined Juventus last month for a fee thought to be in the region of £10m.

Carlos Tevez bemoans Manchester City pressure Jul 17, 2012 Carlos Tevez has claimed that there was "too much pressure" at former club Manchester City following his move to Juventus. The Argentine striker recently joined the Serie A champions for a reported £10m after spending four controversial years at the Etihad Stadium. "Yes, there was way too much pressure," Tevez told CNN. "It came from everyone - the club, the fans. I think that too much pressure just hurts the team. "What happened was that there was so much hype and pressure to be one of the giants of Europe and we didn't do it." Tevez won the Premier League title and the FA Cup during his time at City.

Juve to now keep Marrone? Jul 17, 2012 Italian champions Juventus have made Luca Marrone unavailable for transfer, report Sky Sport Italia. The Italian Under-21 international was set to be released this summer, on loan or in a co-ownership agreement. However, it is now being claimed that boss Antonio Conte has asked the club to keep him following the sale of Emanuele Giaccherini to Sunderland. The 23-year-old has only appeared in 13 League games for the Old Lady over the past two campaigns. Marrone was used as a centre-back last term by Conte, but he may be transformed back into his natural central midfield role after the signing of stopper Angelo Ogbonna from Juventus. The former Siena player has been linked with the likes of Atalanta, Inter, Parma and Fiorentina this summer.

Atalanta want Marrone - report Jul 16, 2013 Atalanta are looking to make a move for perennial Juventus substitute Luca Marrone, reports have claimed. Sky Sport Italia believe that La Dea are hoping to lure the 23-year-old to Bergamo, and will offer the midfielder regular first-team football. Marrone played just 10 League games for the Bianconeri last term, and is seemingly not in Antonio Conte’s plans for next term. As such, Stefano Colatunono’s men could make a move, likely to be a year-loan loan with an outright option.

Rafael Benitez: 'Napoli can beat Juventus to Serie A title' Jul 15, 2013 Napoli coach Rafael Benitez has no doubt that his side are capable of winning the Serie A title next season. The Naples outfit's main challenge will come from reigning champions Juventus, who have won back-to-back league crowns. "Juventus are a strong team and have made waves in the transfer market but there are other teams who can compete for the title and every year is different," he said," Benitez told reporters. "We will try to be competitive in all competitions - we have the Champions League to compete in and we are strong and equipped. "In Serie A, there are other teams [who can challenge] such as Inter, Roma, Fiorentina and AC Milan. But we will fight until the end. "There has been a very positive reaction from fans regarding my arrival and I am very happy with this. My desire is to work hard, give 100% to the club and to make the fans happy." Napoli look likely to lose star striker Edinson Cavani to Paris Saint-Germain.

How Tevez and Llorente Will Make Juventus a Champions League Contender Jul 15, 2013 Many of the great strike partnerships in football are made up of contrasting characters, and Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente—Juventus' likely new front pairing—certainly fit that bill. The Old Lady's new signings each bring different skill sets and playing styles to the table, but coach Antonio Conte will be hoping the amalgamation of their talents will help the club achieve European success for the first time since 1996. Ex-Athletic Bilbao man and Spanish international Llorente is a tall (1.95 m, 6'5"), elegant target man, who is capable of both deftness and brute force. His physical attributes make him a classic No. 9, but nimble skills on the ball mean he is far more dangerous than your average, plodding centre-forward. Tevez, meanwhile, is a diminutive (1.75 m, 5'9"), blustering ball of energy who happens to also be an immensely skillful footballer. Though capable of leading the line or playing as a "trequartista" in the hole between midfield and attack, Tevez is highly effective as a second striker playing just behind a No. 9. At first glance, a Llorente leading the line with Tevez roving just behind him would seem an obvious—and highly promising—tactical setup for Conte, though neither player is yet sure of what his role will be at the club. As reported by Angus Paterson in the Daily Mail, Tevez does not know how Conte will configure Juve's front line, but he told juventus.com that ultimately it would be up to the players to ensure that they jell: Whether I work well with Llorente on the pitch or not is up to Conte to decide. I've not talked to the coach yet so I will have to discuss my position and how I will be used on the pitch with him. The two things that I can bring to the club are experience and the quality of my play. These are certainly the most important things. LLorente had earlier made similar proclamations in the same publication, saying it would be up to Conte to decide how the pieces would fit, but that he was looking forward to seeking success for the organization and working his way back into the Spanish national team. What both players promise to bring to the club is plenty of goals, something that has been the missing element at Juventus, despite their recent domestic success. Neither man was at their best in the season just gone, with Tevez notching 17 goals for Manchester City in all competitions and Llorente managing just five for Bilbao, but both are capable of scoring well over 20 in a single season if given the conditions to thrive. Ben Gladwell, in a piece for ESPN FC , highlights the growing optimism around the Turin club that the dual signings have brought with them, with Leonardo Bonucci's quotes hinting at their European ambitions. Gladwell writes: Mirko Vucinic, Fabio Quagliarella, Alessandro Matri and Sebastian Giovinco all came in for criticism last season as Juve’s spluttering attack left Antonio Conte’s side increasingly reliant on goals from midfield. With Llorente and Tevez, the belief is that Juve now have their strongest attack since David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero fired them to their last Champions League final in 2003. “Tevez and Llorente are two really nice presents from (president Andrea) Agnelli,” defender Leonardo Bonucci told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “Juve’s aim is not only going to be confirming ourselves for the third year in a row in Italy, but achieving something big in Europe too.” Juventus showed in last season's Champions League that they are not far off being an elite team, topping a tough group that included Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk before thumping Celtic in the first knockout phase. Their 4-0 aggregate loss to eventual champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals demonstrated there was still some way to go for the Italians, however, who lacked the bite up front to trouble the impressive Bavarians. With a high-grade midfield orchestrated by Andrea Pirlo and a tight defense that has been further strengthened with the edition of Angelo Ogbonna, Juventus would have already been an imposing outfit, but the new odd couple up front has the potential to turn the team into world-beaters. The strapping, fine-featured Llorente and squat, craggy Tevez are going to look somewhat comical standing next to each other in their new striped kit, but on the pitch, the pair has the potential to become a very serious strike force.

How Tevez and Llorente Will Make Juventus a Champions League Contender Jul 15, 2013 Many of the great strike partnerships in football are made up of contrasting characters, and Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente—Juventus' likely new front pairing—certainly fit that bill. The Old Lady's new signings each bring different skill sets and playing styles to the table, but coach Antonio Conte will be hoping the amalgamation of their talents will help the club achieve European success for the first time since 1996. Ex-Athletic Bilbao man and Spanish international Llorente is a tall (1.95 m, 6'5"), elegant target man, who is capable of both deftness and brute force. His physical attributes make him a classic No. 9, but nimble skills on the ball mean he is far more dangerous than your average, plodding centre-forward. Tevez, meanwhile, is a diminutive (1.75 m, 5'9"), blustering ball of energy who happens to also be an immensely skillful footballer. Though capable of leading the line or playing as a "trequartista" in the hole between midfield and attack, Tevez is highly effective as a second striker playing just behind a No. 9. At first glance, a Llorente leading the line with Tevez roving just behind him would seem an obvious—and highly promising—tactical setup for Conte, though neither player is yet sure of what his role will be at the club. As reported by Angus Paterson in the Daily Mail, Tevez does not know how Conte will configure Juve's front line, but he told juventus.com that ultimately it would be up to the players to ensure that they jell: Whether I work well with Llorente on the pitch or not is up to Conte to decide. I've not talked to the coach yet so I will have to discuss my position and how I will be used on the pitch with him. The two things that I can bring to the club are experience and the quality of my play. These are certainly the most important things. LLorente had earlier made similar proclamations in the same publication, saying it would be up to Conte to decide how the pieces would fit, but that he was looking forward to seeking success for the organization and working his way back into the Spanish national team. What both players promise to bring to the club is plenty of goals, something that has been the missing element at Juventus, despite their recent domestic success. Neither man was at their best in the season just gone, with Tevez notching 17 goals for Manchester City in all competitions and Llorente managing just five for Bilbao, but both are capable of scoring well over 20 in a single season if given the conditions to thrive. Ben Gladwell, in a piece for ESPN FC , highlights the growing optimism around the Turin club that the dual signings have brought with them, with Leonardo Bonucci's quotes hinting at their European ambitions. Gladwell writes: Mirko Vucinic, Fabio Quagliarella, Alessandro Matri and Sebastian Giovinco all came in for criticism last season as Juve’s spluttering attack left Antonio Conte’s side increasingly reliant on goals from midfield. With Llorente and Tevez, the belief is that Juve now have their strongest attack since David Trezeguet and Alessandro Del Piero fired them to their last Champions League final in 2003. “Tevez and Llorente are two really nice presents from (president Andrea) Agnelli,” defender Leonardo Bonucci told giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. “Juve’s aim is not only going to be confirming ourselves for the third year in a row in Italy, but achieving something big in Europe too.” Juventus showed in last season's Champions League that they are not far off being an elite team, topping a tough group that included Chelsea and Shakhtar Donetsk before thumping Celtic in the first knockout phase. Their 4-0 aggregate loss to eventual champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals demonstrated there was still some way to go for the Italians, however, who lacked the bite up front to trouble the impressive Bavarians. With a high-grade midfield orchestrated by Andrea Pirlo and a tight defense that has been further strengthened with the edition of Angelo Ogbonna, Juventus would have already been an imposing outfit, but the new odd couple up front has the potential to turn the team into world-beaters. The strapping, fine-featured Llorente and squat, craggy Tevez are going to look somewhat comical standing next to each other in their new striped kit, but on the pitch, the pair has the potential to become a very serious strike force.

New Juve trio delight Asamoah Jul 15, 2013 Kwadwo Asamoah is confident for the season ahead after Juventus brought in three big-name players this summer. AMAZONIAN The Old Lady, winners of the last two Scudetti, have looked to strengthen by netting strikers Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente and defender Angelo Ogbonna. “We’ve brought in three excellent signings and if we work well together, without ever giving in, we’ll be able to enjoy a good season,” the 25-year-old noted. “We’ll give our all to do well in both Serie A and the Champions League, without forgetting our first target, the Italian Super Cup [against Lazio on August 18]. AMAZONIAN “We’re working hard in pre-season and it’s inevitable you’ll feel an element of fatigue, but we knew that already after last year. After all, this is precisely where our strength comes from – the hard work we put in during training.” Asked specifically about Italian international Ogbonna following his move from Torino, the former Udinese man was full of praise. “I already knew Ogbonna and saw many of his games last season. He’s a fine player, he’s not just good as a defender, but also intelligent with the ball at his feet.” AMAZONIAN Asamoah was used as a left wing-back last season, but he’s unconcerned by his positioning in the new campaign. “Where I play is decided by the Coach. I’m ready to play in any position – even in attack! I’ll do what he says. I can play in the middle or on the flank in midfield. It makes no difference to me.”

Mazzarri respects Juve and Napoli Jul 15, 2013 Inter boss Walter Mazzarri concedes that Juventus and former club Napoli will be title contenders in 2013-14. The Old Lady have won the last two championships and have been busy on the transfer market in an effort to strengthen even more. “Juventus were already strong, very strong,” the ex-Sampdoria and Livorno tactician told La Domenica Sportiva. “And now they've strengthened further. “They're even more complete. They had a fantastic season last time out. They did well in the Champions League up to a certain point and they'll be able to hold their own next year too.” The Bianconeri have made two notable acquisitions in attack with the capture of Carlos Tevez from Manchester City and Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Llorente. “They are two great players who bolster an already excellent squad,” Mazzarri added. Asked about Napoli, whom he left last month, Mazzarri believes they will remain competitive with Rafa Benitez now in charge. “They came second last season after four years of growth and I think they can only improve,” Mazzarri noted. “As a club they're in good shape and there's every chance of them succeeding. But Napoli is the past for me – I want to talk about Inter now.”

Pogba hails role model Deschamps The 20-year-old midfielder is hoping to enjoy a similarly successful career to his national team boss. Jul 15, 2013 Paul Pogba has admitted that he wants to emulate Didier Deschamps' achievements for France and Juventus, after leading his country to victory at the Under-20 World Cup in front of his watching "role model". The midfielder turned in another commanding display as les Bleuets overcame Uruguay on penalties in Turkey on Saturday evening, with the former Manchester United man netting in the shootout before later being recognised as the tournament's best player. Pogba was left struggling to take it all in, admitting that the evening had been made all the more special for the fact that current senior squad coach Deschamps had been in attendance. "After the final, he came to the dressing room and complimented us," the 20-year-old explained in an interview with Fifa.com. "It was so beautiful to triumph in front of him. "I thanked him and now I want to imitate him. For me, he is a role model: he was a great midfielder for both France and Juventus." Pogba acknowledged, though, that while he has established himself as one of the best young midfielders in the world over the past 12 months, he still has much to learn. "This must be just the beginning," he explained. "The goal is to achieve the success of Deschamps, but to do that I have to work a lot." Deschamps, a World Cup winner in 1998, won three Serie A titles and a Champions League during his time in Turin.

Asamoah sets sights on Juventus clean sweep The Ghana international is hopeful the Serie A champions can add European glory to their domestic triumph after bolstering their squad with the likes of Carlos Tevez. Jul 15, 2013 Juventus midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah is determined to fight for a domestic and European clean sweep of trophies in the coming season. AMAZONIAN The Bianconeri successfully defended their Serie A crown last term and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but Asamoah is confident they can add further titles to the Scudetto in 2013-14. "We are working hard in order to do well and get as far as possible in Serie A and in the Champions League," the 24-year-old told reporters. "Not to mention the Super Cup [against Lazio on August 18], which will be our first trophy to win." AMAZONIAN Antonio Conte's side have alredy strengthened their squad with the signings of Carlos Tevez, Angelo Ogbonna and Fernando Llorente this summer, and Asamoah feels such investment will pay dividends come the business end of the season. "We have three new strong and experienced companions, and if we work well together, never giving up, we can achieve our goals," the Ghana international added.

Mazzarri fearful of Juventus quality The Nerazzurri coach believes that the two-time defending Serie A champions have now gone to another level after reinforcing their front-line. Jul 15, 2013 Inter boss Walter Mazzarri has admitted he is fearful of Juventus after they bolstered their side with the signings of Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente. The Bianconeri are bidding for a third successive title and the Nerazzurri coach, who led Napoli to a distant second-placed finish last term, freely concedes that Antonio Conte's men will take some stopping now that they have added to their attacking options. “Tevez and Llorente are two great players who will bolster an already excellent squad," Mazzarri told La Domenica Sportiva. “Juventus were already strong, very strong. And now they've strengthened further. They're even more complete. They had a fantastic season last time out. "They did well in the Champions League up to a certain point [the quarter-finals] and they'll be able to hold their own next year too.” However, Mazzarri feels that his old club could again mount a credible title challenge. “Napoli came second last season after four years of growth and I think they can only improve,” he reasoned. “As a club they're in good shape and there's every chance of them succeeding. "But Napoli is the past for me - I want to talk only about Inter now.” Mazzarri spent four years in charge of Napoli before departing for Appiano Gentile this summer.

'Tevez is a true warrior' - Lippi The former Bianconeri boss has praised the signing of the forward and believes that the Serie A will finish with the Turin club on top again this season. Jul 15, 2013 Iconic ex-Juventus coach Marcello Lippi has branded Carlos Tevez a "true warrior" and suggested that the Scudetto is already in the reigning champions' hands before a ball has been kicked. The Argentine striker joined Antonio Conte's side for an estimated €12 million earlier this month from Manchester City on a three-year deal and was given the No.10 shirt ahead of the new Serie A season. Lippi, who took the Bianconeri to five league titles during his two spells at the Turin-based club, is convinced that the ex-Manchester United attacker will be a huge success in Italy. "Tevez is a true warrior and, in my opinion, a great signing," the current Guangzhou Evergrande boss told La Stampa. "He's technically very good and has great character and will to fight." The World Cup-winning trainer also expressed his opinion that Juve are the runaway favourites to claim glory in Serie A this season and praised Conte for the way he has adapted his ability to lead from playing into coaching. "Juventus will win Serie A," he added. "I think the title is already theirs. "Conte, as a captain, was a real leader, and he has clearly maintained that as a coach. I always knew he would become a good coach." Despite putting faith in Conte and Co.'s chances in Italy, the former Italy head coach believes that Real Madrid - under new trainer Carlo Ancelotti - will win the Champions League. Lippi added: "In Europe, I see the favourites as Real Madrid. I think Ancelotti is the right person for that team."

Benitez dismisses Juventus dominance The Napoli trainer insists the Bianconeri will be challenged for the Scudetto by his side and others, while refusing to be drawn on Edinson Cavani's future. Jul 14, 2013 Rafael Benitez has rejected the notion that Juventus will dominate Serie A for a third successive season and believes that Napoli can break the champions' Scudetto stranglehold. The Partenopei finished second last term but nine points adrift of the Bianconeri, who claimed back-to-back league titles under the stewardship of Antonio Conte. Benitez, who replaced Walter Mazzarri at the Stadio San Paolo, is aiming to take the Naples-based club up a gear the coming campaign. "Juventus are a strong team and have made waves in the transfer market but there are other teams who can compete for the title and every year is different," the 53-year-old said. "We will try to be competitive in all competitions - we have the Champions League to compete in and we are strong and equipped. "In Serie A, there are other teams [who can challenge] such as Inter, Roma, Fiorentina and AC Milan. But we will fight until the end. "There has been a very positive reaction from fans regarding my arrival and I am very happy with this. My desire is to work hard, give 100 per cent to the club and to make the fans happy." Napoli striker Edinson Cavani is believed to be on the verge of a move to Paris Saint-Germain, however, the former Chelsea and Inter boss refused to be drawn on whether a transfer is imminent. "I have spoken with Cavani, but I am focused on my job," Benitez added. "If he stays with us, we'll meet again on July 21."

Llorente: Juventus have freed me The Spain striker endured a frustrating last year at Athletic Bilbao after a falling-out with coach Marcelo Bielsa but says he feels "liberated" in Turin. Jul 14, 2013 Fernando Llorente had admitted his move to Juventus has freed him from his nightmare final season at Athletic Bilbao. The Spain striker, 28, completed his move to the Serie A champions following a pre-contract agreement with the club in January. Llorente's nine-year association with Athletic turned sour towards the end after it became public he wanted to leave the club and was consequently dropped by former coach Marcelo Bielsa and lost his place in the national team. "The move to Juventus was liberating for me," he told Tuttosport. "The reception of the fans was something spectacular. Ever since I arrived, I've been happy to wear a jersey as prestigious as that of Juventus. "I'm living the dream - growing as a player and I came to the best team to do so. "The day of the presentation at the Juventus Stadium was very impressive. The stadium and especially the museum. I've never seen a football museum. It was great." Llorente has signed a four-year deal with the Bianconeri and says he is already adapting well to life in Italy, having joined the club at the start of July. "I have already made friends with everyone in the dressing room,” he told reporters. "For me it was very important to learn Italian before getting here. “I'm glad I made the effort to learn – I already feel like a part of this group." The forward joins striker Carlos Tevez and defender Angelo Ogbonna as recent recruits of Juventus.

Karl Aage Hansen e Karl Aage Praest con la maglia della Juventus nel 1951

Paul Pogba's had a pretty darn good 12-month span Jul 14, 2013 Take a moment to ask yourself a simple question: 'What was I doing at four months after I turned 20 years old?' I'm not talking about myself specifically. You don't need to hear about how I was sitting in a classroom and most likely bored out of my mind as a junior in college. (Kidding, parents.) Just ask it to yourself, and think about it for a second or two. Now, for comparison's sake, let's throw a name out there into the open. Four months after Paul Pogba turned 20 years old, he's probably going to be in the market for a new trophy case. No, really. This isn't a drill. Since the 20-year-old Frenchman ditched his teenage years in the middle of March, he has won all of the following. 1. The Scudetto in his first season with Juventus 2. Captained France to the Under-20 World Cup title 3. The Golden Ball at the Under-20 World Cup It's okay to be a little jealous, folks. You won't be the only one. To say Paul Pogba has exceeded expectations since he officially became a Juventus player is probably a bit of an understatement. There was hype, sure, but there was also the fact that he was basically going from reserve games in England to the highest level of football in Italy. That's quite a jump, especially for somebody so young and relatively inexperienced at such a high level. In hindsight, I think he adapted just fine. Pogba's impact from day one was impecable. His progress under Antonio Conte was just as good. And if it wasn't for a trio of guys named Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal, and Claudio Marchisio, Pogba would probably be in line for more playing time than most midfielders inhibiting Serie A at the moment. He's so impressive sometimes, you forget that he's barely into his 20s, let alone coming off a season where he commanded a handful of games when he was still 19. How good was he? I could tell you that Pogba Or, we could just read this paragraph from ESPNFC's Christopher Atkins. The French midfielder was masterful for much of the tournament and was, in the final, clearly the most complete player on display. While it was clear that many involved were still learning their trade, Pogba looked completely at ease throughout. He was, quite simply, too good for this level of competition. Basically, Pogba was a man amongst boys even though those other 21 players on the field were basically the same age. But this all gets back to how Pogba has developed the past year since he became a Juventus player. We've seen players in their mid-20s become big-time players at Juventus in the past. Heck, we don't have to look further than a couple of players who are currently in the Juve midfield, Vidal and Marchisio. Obviously different situations with one coming up through the club's youth ranks and the other arriving from Germany for a fee that looks ridiculously low at this point, but the point still remains. Players develop at all different kinds of rates. Some faster than others, some arriving with hype and never living up to it. In this case of Pogba, he has flown right past all of that. Maybe it's because a lot of us had never studied his game over the course of a season due to simple logistical reasons. We were certainly a lot more familiar with somebody like Marchisio, having watched him when he first became a regular with the senior squad in Serie B, then going out on loan at Empoli and coming back home again. But now that we've seen Pogba, we have a baseline and a way to compare and evaluate his game to see just how far it has grown. A good number of these players in the Under-20 World Cup won't go on to do a whole hell of a lot in their professional careers. Some will have serviceable careers. Others will go on to have productive stints as pros. But then there's Pogba, a player who could very well be a fixture for Didier Deschamps' France squad in a matter of months when World Cup qualifiers get back underway. How many other players from the recently competition will be able to say that? This is Paul Pogba at 20 years old, guys. Paul Pogba in his mid-20s is just scary...in a good way. Well, at least for those of us who like Juventus.

Llorente 'already feels part of Juve' Jul 14, 2013 Fernando Llorente has admitted that learning Italian before his arrival at Juventus has helped him integrate into the squad. The Spain international arrived on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao in June, and the goalscorer has conceded that he has settled well in Turin. “I have already made friends with everyone in the locker room,” he told reporters. “For me it was very important to learn Italian before getting here. “I'm glad I made the effort to learn – I already feel like a part of this group.”

Benitez hopes for Scudetto challenge Jul 14, 2013 Rafael Benitez has admitted that he wants Napoli to challenge Juventus for the Scudetto this season. The Spanish tactician replaced Walter Mazzarri at Stadio San Paolo last month, and the 53-year-old has insisted that the Partenopei have the squad to do well. “Juventus are a strong team but there are other teams who can compete for the title,” he told reporters. “And our goal is to be among them. “My desire is to work hard, to win with this team and make the fans happy. “I have spoken with Cavani, but I am focused on my job. “If he stays with us, we'll meet again on July 21.”

Lippi: The title is Juve's Jul 14, 2013 Former Juventus boss Marcelo Lippi believes that the Bianconeri will go on to claim their third successive Scudetto this season. The 65-year-old, who is currently in charge at Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande, is confident that Antonio Conte can guide the Old Lady to the title. “Juventus will win the League,” he told La Stampa. “I think the title is already theirs. “Conte, as a captain, was a real leader, and he has clearly maintained that as a Coach. “I always knew he would become a good Coach.” The World Cup-winning tactician then commented on the challenge Juve face from Napoli. “We'll have to see how they spend the money they receive from Cavani. “But Benitez was a good choice. He is a Coach that has won wherever he has gone.”