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Coppa Italia - Semi-final - 29-1-2013 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Luca Banti Klose ready to face Juve tonight Jan 29, 2013 Lazio have only now named their squad for tonight’s Coppa Italia semi-final against Juventus, which includes Miroslav Klose. Coach Vladimir Petkovic was keeping his cards very close to his chest ahead of the second leg, having drawn 1-1 in Turin last week. German striker Klose returns to the side and could even start, as he hasn’t featured since January 13 due to a left thigh injury. He only returned to full training on Monday, but there are reports he could play from the beginning. Andre Dias is available again after a three-match Coppa Italia ban. Lazio squad: Marchetti, Bizzarri, Carrizo;Biava, Cavanda, Dias, Konko, Radu, Zauri, Ciani, Stankevicius; Cana, Ledesma, Mauri, Candreva, Lulic, Gonzalez, Brocchi, Hernanes;Floccari, Kozak, Rozzi, Klose.

Coppa Italia - Semi-final - 29-1-2013 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Luca Banti Pirlo in Juve squad for Coppa semi Jan 28, 2013 Juventus have named their 21-man squad for the Coppa Italia semi-final second-leg against Lazio on Tuesday. The main news for Bianconeri fans is the return of Andrea Pirlo, who has missed the last three matches with injury. The 33-year-old however, is back for the match at Stadio Olimpico, as the Old Lady look to make the final for the second successive year. Full squad: Buffon, Caceres, Pogba, Marchisio, Vucinic, De Ceglie, Giovinco, Peluso, Barzagli, Bonucci, Padoin, Pirlo, Vidal, Giaccherini, Lichtsteiner, Quagliarella, Storari, Matri, Isla, Rubinho, Marrone.

Coppa Italia - Semi-final - 29-1-2013 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Luca Banti 'Juve must be stronger than one result' Jan 28, 2013 Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has tried to put recent indiscretions behind him and has asked fans for extra support as they face Lazio. The Bianconeri travel to Rome to face the Biancocelesti in the second-leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final tomorrow. And the 25-year-old defender has insisted that the team are desperate to reach the final, whilst also admitting that he has to forget the fact he will now be banned for two games following incidents after Saturday's 1-1 draw with Genoa. “A team like Juventus, a team that wants to be the best in Italy and one of the best in the world, must be stronger than one bad result,” he told the club's official website. “We have to improve, be humble and have the desire to get better. “So far this season we have won nothing. We now go and play Lazio, who themselves have come off the back of a bad defeat. “We travel to Rome with enthusiasm, positivity and a will to win and get to the final.”

Coppa Italia - Semi-final - 29-1-2013 (8:45 p.m.) - Olimpico Stadium - Rome Referee: Luca Banti Lazio-Juventus Preview: Conte seeks goals in bid to overturn the Biancocelesti's slender advantage The Bianconeri must score in the Stadio Olimpico if they are to stand any chance of progressing to their 15th Coppa Italia final after a 1-1 first-leg draw. Jan 28, 2013 PROBABLE LINE-UPS LAZIO Marchetti Cavanda, Biava, Ciani, Radu Candreva, Ledesma, Cana, Hernanes, Mauri Floccari JUVENTUSStorari Caceres, Barzagli, Bonucci Lichtsteiner, Vidal, Pogba, Marrone, Giaccherini Giovinco, Quagliarella Stefano Mauri's late equaliser at the Juventus Stadium gave Lazio a vital away goal ahead of the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final. Aware that they must score, Juventus will most likely start with two strikers. Fabio Quagliarella could retain his starting berth up front after scoring in the 1-1 draw with Genoa at the weekend, while Sebastian Giovinco is pushing for a start having been left on the bench in the previous match and he could replace Mirko Vucinic. Andrea Pirlo should return to training later this week but the 33-year-old is ruled out of Tuesday's contest against the Biancocelesti. With Kwadwo Asamoah on international duty with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations, Arturo Vidal, Paul Pogba and Claudio Marchisio are expected to continue in central midfield. Emanuele Giaccherini could replace Paolo De Ceglie on the left wing. Lazio's top goalscorer Miroslav Klose is still sidelined through a muscular injury, meaning that Sergio Floccari should continue up front, although Czech Republic forward Libor Kozak could start. Lazio are likely to employ a four-man defence, with Luis Pedro Cavanda and Stefan Radu poised to start in the wing-back positions. Michael Ciani and Andre Dias are vying for the chance to partner Giuseppe Biava in central defence whilst Antonio Candreva is expected to return to the XI, having missed the first leg. DID YOU KNOW? • Lazio have failed to beat Juventus in their last nine meetings, losing six. Their last triumph over the Bianconeri came back in April 2009 when goals from Mauro Zarate and Aleksandar Kolarov gave the Biancocelesti a 2-1 Coppa Italia victory. • Juventus are searching for a record tenth Coppa Italia title. Only Roma have lifted the trophy as many times as the Old Lady. • Lazio have lifted the Coppa Italia on five occasions, most recently in 2009 under the stewardship of Delio Rossi. • Antonio Conte has appeared in a Coppa Italia final on three occasions as a player, winning the trophy as part of the 1995 Juventus side. • Lazio's 1-0 loss to Chievo on Saturday was their first defeat in 17 matches. • Lazio faced Juventus in the 2004 Coppa Italia final where they secured a 4-2 aggregate win over two legs. Head to Head Coppa Italia ‎- Jan 22, 2013 - Juventus 1 - Lazio 1 Serie A ‎- Nov 17, 2012 - Juventus 0 - Lazio 0 Serie A ‎- Apr 11, 2012 - Juventus 2 - Lazio 1 Serie A ‎- Nov 26, 2011 - Lazio 0 - Juventus 1 Serie A ‎- May 2, 2011 - Lazio 0 - Juventus 1 Last Five Matches Lazio Jan 26, 2013 - Lazio 0 - Chievo 1 - Serie A Jan 22, 2013 - Juventus 1 - Lazio 1 - Coppa Italia Jan 19, 2013 - Palermo 2 - Lazio 2 - Serie A Jan 13, 2013 - Lazio 2 - Atalanta 0 - Serie A Jan 8, 2013 - Lazio 3 - Catania 0 - Coppa Italia Juventus Jan 26, 2013 - Juventus 1 - Genoa 1 - Serie A Jan 22, 2013 - Juventus 1 - Lazio 1 - Coppa Italia Jan 19, 2013 - Juventus 4 - Udinese 0 - Serie A Jan 13, 2013 - Parma 1 - Juventus 1 - Serie A Jan 9, 2013 - Juventus 2 - AC Milan 1 - Coppa Italia Players to Watch Federico Marchetti The Lazio shot-stopper pulled off a fine string of saves in the first leg to keep the Biancocelesti in contention for their sixth Coppa Italia title. Federico Marchetti has established himself as one of the finest goalkeepers in the division and will need to be on his best form once again if Lazio are to frustrate the Italian champions. Arturo Vidal With nine goals and seven assists to his name in all competitions this season, Lazio will need to keep the Chilean midfielder quiet if they are to stand any chance of progressing to the final. Arturo Vidal struck the post in the first leg and has shown many times this campaign that he has a knack of being in the right place at the right time. Prediction Vladimir Petkovic's side succeeded in restricting Juventus to very few shots on target in the first leg and if they can replicate their defensive resilience, Lazio's away goal could prove the decisive factor between the two sides. Editor's Prediction Lazio 0 - 0 Juventus

Chi é quell'individuo con accento romano che sta dicendo un sacco di banalitá nello studio della rai?

Coppa Italia - Semifinale - Ritorno - 29-1-2013 (ore 20:45) - Stadio Olimpico - Roma Arbitro: Luca Banti Confronti ufficiali 160 - 137 (Serie A) - 20 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) Vittorie Juventus 77 - 70 (Serie A) - 6 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Campionato a gironi) Pareggi 42 - 35 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) Vittorie Lazio 41 - 32 (Serie A) - 7 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 1 (Campionato a gironi) Goals Juventus 271 - 242 (Serie A) - 26 (Coppa Italia) - 1 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) Goals Lazio 186 - 158 (Serie A) - 24 (Coppa Italia) - 2 (Supercoppa Italiana) - 2 (Campionato a gironi) Lazio - Juventus a Roma - Coppa Italia Confronti ufficiali 10 Vittorie Juventus 2 (L'ultima l'08.03.1995, 0-1) Pareggi 4 (L'ultimo l'11.03.1998, 2-2) Vittorie Lazio 4 (L'ultima il 03.03.2009, 2-1) Goals Juventus 9 Goals Lazio 12 Giocatori con più presenze e goals contro la Lazio a Roma - Coppa Italia 4 presenze Conte Antonio 3 Bonini Massimo 3 Brio Sergio 3 Pessotto Gianluca 3 Tacchinardi Alessio 3 Tacconi Stefano 2 Birindelli Alessandro 2 Buso Renato 2 Cabrini Antonio 2 Caricola Nicola 1 goal Buso Renato 1 Cabrini Antonio 1 Del Piero Alessandro 1 Fonseca Caris Daniel 1 Marchionni Marco 1 Mauro Massimo 1 Ravanelli Fabrizio 1 Serena Aldo Ultimi confronti diretti 22.04.2009 Coppa Italia Juventus-Lazio 1-2 31.05.2009 Serie A Juventus-Lazio 2-0 12.09.2009 Serie A Lazio-Juventus 0-2 31.01.2010 Serie A Juventus-Lazio 1-1 12.12.2010 Serie A Juventus-Lazio 2-1 02.05.2011 Serie A Lazio-Juventus 0-1 26.11.2011 Serie A Lazio-Juventus 0-1 11.04.2012 Serie A Juventus-Lazio 2-1 17.11.2012 Serie A Juventus-Lazio 0-0 22.01.2013 Coppa Italia Juventus-Lazio 1-1 Giocate 10 - Vittorie Juventus 6 - Pareggi 3 - Vittorie Lazio 1 - Goals Juventus 13 - Goals Lazio 6

All the bans after Week 22 Jan 28, 2013 Juventus will also be without Mirko Vucinic for their game at Chievo as his booking at the weekend means he’ll miss Week 23. Bianconeri boss Antonio Conte and defender Leonardo Bonucci were given two match bans today for taking their protests too far after Saturday’s 1-1 against Genoa. However, striker Vucinic has also been ruled out of the Verona trip as he was yellow-carded in the draw at the Juventus Stadium. Giorgio Chiellini’s one-match stop is irrelevant as he is injured anyway. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Serie A Week 22 - 26-1-2013 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Fabio Quagliarella (54′) Marco Borriello (68′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Marco Guida Attendance: 38000 Juventus hit by bans post Genoa Jan 28, 2013 Juventus boss Antonio Conte and defender Leonardo Bonucci have been banned for two games in the aftermath of the Genoa row. The Old Lady were left furious at the end of the 1-1 draw after they were denied, what they felt, was a clear penalty. Conte and Bonucci both confronted the referee. Giorgio Chiellini has been stopped for one game too after the injured stopper came on to the pitch to argue with officials. Bianconeri director general Beppe Marotta, meanwhile, has been suspended from duty until February 18. The Turin giants will face Chievo this weekend and then Fiorentina in Serie A. Conte and Bonucci have also been fined €10,000 each. Juventus, as a club, will have to pay out €50,000. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Pirlo expected glory at Juventus Jan 28, 2013 Andrea Pirlo says he was convinced that he could pick up more honours after leaving Milan for Juventus in 2011. The 33-year-old signed for the Old Lady on a free transfer when his contract at San Siro expired and immediately inspired them to Scudetto glory. “I was looking for new emotions,” Pirlo stated as he was named as the 2012 Player of the Year at the Gran Gala del Calcio on Sunday. “I found them at Juventus. “I was convinced of Juventus when I joined them and I’m still convinced of the club today,” continued the playmaker. “The most important thing for us now is to win the Scudetto again and to obviously be competitive in Europe.”

No ligament damage for Llorente Jan 28, 2013 Tests have ruled out any ligament damage to the knee of Juventus-bound striker Fernando Llorente. The Spanish international, who will join the Old Lady in the summer on a free transfer, picked up an injury on Saturday in training with Athletic Bilbao. The centre-forward had an MRI scan on Monday which showed up just a strain. He will be sidelined for the next 15 days.

Llorente set for knee scan Jan 28, 2013 Juventus will be anxiously awaiting news from Spain on Monday as new signing Fernando Llorente will have tests on a knee injury. The Spanish international, who will join the Old Lady in the summer on a free transfer, picked up a problem in training on Saturday. Llorente will have an MRI scan later today in an effort to understand whether the centre-forward has sustained knee ligament damage.

Agnelli: Future bright for Juventus Jan 28, 2013 Juventus President Andrea Agnelli is confident that the club are on the right path for an even brighter future. While the side are doing the business on the field of play following their Scudetto win last term, Agnelli maintains that the decisions made at boardroom level will help to maintain the side’s competitiveness. “We want to keep aiming higher, drawing inspiration from the very best in European and American sport,” he commented. “There are three main sources of income for sports clubs – TV rights, gate receipts and commercial earnings. “The clubs that lead the way in these areas are Spanish, English and German, in that order, but Juve are on a par with the best clubs in Europe. “The investments that the club has made in the last two or three years will bear fruit. “I'm talking about the J-College, which enables our youngsters to combine their academic commitments with their sports activities, the stadium, which makes headlines when it's 'only' 90 per cent full, and the J-Museum, which has already received over 110,000 visitors in just over six months.”

Serie A Week 22 - 26-1-2013 (8:45 p.m.) 1 - 1 Fabio Quagliarella (54′) Marco Borriello (68′) Juventus Stadium - Turin Referee: Marco Guida Attendance: 38000 Conte, Bonucci and Chiellini among Juventus staff banned over Genoa protestations Multiple Bianconeri personnel have been punished for their parts in an ugly exchange with officials in the aftermath of Saturday's Serie A encounter. Jan 28, 2013 Juventus coach Antonio Conte, defenders Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, forward Mirko Vucinic and director Giuseppe Marotta have all been banned for criticising referee Marco Guida following his decision not to award the Old Lady a penalty against Genoa. The Bianconeri were incensed when Guida and his assistants failed to whistle for handball against Andreas Granqvist in the dying seconds of the 1-1 draw at Juventus Stadium. Sporting judge Gianpaolo Tosel has since decided to ban Conte and Bonucci for two games and hand the pair €10,000 fines, stating that their punishment was for "intimidating the referee and an additional official, insulting them and then reiterating the comments in the dressing room after the game". Injured defender Giorgio Chiellini ran from the stands to confront the officials and as a result will now be banned for one game, while Vucinic has been handed an identical sanction for protesting despite numerous warnings. Marotta, meanwhile, has been suspended from duty until February 18, while the club will also have to pay €50,000, in addition to the individual fines dished out. The Turin giants travel to Chievo next Sunday before hosting Fiorentina six days later in Serie A. One positive for the club, however, is the announcement of the signing of Ecuador Under-20 midfielder Jose Francisco Cevallos on loan from LDU Quito. The 18-year-old will stay at Juve until the end of the season, with the reigning Serie A champions retaining the option of making the deal permanent in the summer. http://www.soccerway.com/national/italy/serie-a/20122013/regular-season/

Napoli are as strong as Juventus, says Moggi The former Italian football administrator believes the Partenopei do not need reinforcements in the January transfer window, as they are already on the same level as the Bianconeri. Jan 28, 2013 Luciano Moggi says Napoli are as strong as Juventus and do not need to strengthen their current playing squad. Walter Mazzarri's men trail the Bianconeri by three points in Serie A, and the former Partenopei administrator believes the good work done in the summer transfer window has left them with a team strong enough to challenge for major honours. "I believe that Napoli should not do anything because the teams are built in June," the 75-year-old told reporters. "The Napoli squad already has a sufficient size, and they are as strong as Juventus," Juve have drawn three of their last four games, and despite still leading the table, Moggi feels that the team's spirit might have been slightly disrupted by off-the-field events. "Juve are nervous because of the controversy regarding Conte and Marotta, those are indicative of a state of nervousness that exists, as well as the fear of not being able to move forward as they would like. "Juve are not as strong as they were a month or two ago. "Probably missing Chiellini, who gives them a considerable competitive spirit, and the lack of Pirlo are fundamental too, but this team does not score. Pogba is a good player, but is not a phenomenon."

Certain things always get blown up when they happen to Juventus, says Agnelli The Bianconeri supremo feels that his side are treated differently than their rivals, and added that the reaction to Saturday's criticism of the referee is rather excessive. Jan 28, 2013 Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has voiced his dismay with the way the media have reacted to Giuseppe Marotta and Antonio Conte's criticism of the referee in the Bianconeri's draw against Genoa at the weekend. Coach and director both hit out at the officials following their decision not to award their side a spot kick in Saturday's encounter, and their harsh words have not gone down too well elsewhere, much to the frustration of the club chief. "Certain things always get blown up when they happen to Juventus, but you shouldn't manipulate comments made in the heat of the moment," he told reporters. "Marotta maintained a very calm tone Saturday and it's up to the people who select referees to decide how appropriate certain appointments are. "Depending on which refereeing appointments are made in future, we will see if what was said was deemed appropriate or not. "Having said that, we must move on and remember that whoever finishes top in May will be there deservedly." Second-placed Napoli have closed the gap with Juventus to three points following this weekend's results.

Llorente to have MRI scan on knee injury The Athletic Bilbao striker, who recently agreed to join Juventus on a free in the summer, will have the scan to assess a sprain picked up during training on Saturday. Jan 27, 2013 Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente will undergo an MRI scan on his knee on Monday to assess an injury picked up in training. Llorente had been due to play for Athletic on Sunday against Atletico Madrid, in a match that would mark his first appearance at San Mames since the announcement he would join Juventus on a free in the summer. However, the club released a statement on their official website to say that Llorente would be unavailable due to the injury. “Llorente suffered a sprain to his right knee during the latter part of Saturday's session. “On Monday, January 28 he will have an MRI scan to evaluate the damage.” There has been constant speculation about the Spain international's future throughout the current season, with Llorente only starting one league game for the Basque outfit as a result of his public decision to leave at the end of his contract. Juventus reportedly had to fend off interest from several Premier League clubs to agree a deal with the striker, who will complete his move to Turin in the summer. After reaching two cup finals and finishing 10th in the league last season, Athletic have struggled in La Liga this time around, and sit 15th in the division ahead of the match against high-flying Atletico on Sunday.

Juve confirm Llorente for 2013-14 Jan 24, 2013 Italian champions Juventus have announced that Fernando Llorente will join them in the summer from Athletic Bilbao. The Spanish international will arrive on a Bosman free transfer once his current contract expires with his present club. The 27-year-old, who has seven goals in 21 games for his country, has put pen to paper on a four-year deal with the Bianconeri. Juve have yet to release any financial information about the move, but it is rumoured that the striker will net €4.5m a season in wages.

Official: Llorente to join Juventus in July The Spain international will move to the Turin giants in the summer on a four-year deal once his contract with Athletic Bilbao expires. Jan 24, 2013 Juventus have confirmed the signing of Fernando Llorente on a four-year deal in the summer on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao. The Spain international has been linked with a move to Turin since the summer after announcing that he was not going to extend his contract at San Mames. As Goal.com revealed last week, the Basques had turned down an offer from the Serie A champions over a January move to Italy, meaning that the Bianconeri have had to wait until the summer to get their man. "The future of Fernando Llorente is in black and white," a statement on the club's official website read. "The Spain international, who will be out of contract with Athletic Bilbao, has signed an agreement that will bind him to Juventus from July 1. "The contract lasts for four years, expiring on June 30, 2017." Juventus have long been looking for a striker to bolster their attack, with the likes of Alessandro Matri, Sebastian Giovinco, Fabio Quagliarella and Mirko Vucinic failing to impress on a consistent basis. Llorente made his debut for Athletic in 2004, and has since made over 350 appearances for the club. He was part of the side that reached the Copa del Rey and Europa League finals last season.

Juventus to confirm four-year deal for Llorente Antonio Conte has won the race for the Spain striker, who will become a Bianconeri player on July 1 after seeing out the remainder of his contract with Athletic Bilbao. Jan 24, 2013 Juventus will confirm the signing of Fernando Llorente on Thursday, with the announcement of the free transfer concluding their patient pursuit of Athletic Bilbao's most coveted player. The 27-year-old has been frozen out of the picture at the Basque club after rejecting a new contract that would have seen his salary rise to €4.8 million a year. Llorente will earn less at Juventus, €4.5 million per season, but had his heart set on Italy and has now agreed a four-year contract. The Serie A holders attempted to sign Llorente in the summer but baulked at the €36 million buy-out clause written into the player's contract. Llorente has been free to speak to overseas clubs about a summer transfer since January 1. The deal was to be announced by the Turin club on Wednesday, but was held back so as not to overshadow the new two-year contract extension agreed by captain Gianluigi Buffon.

Llorente to Juventus tomorrow? Jan 23, 2013 Spanish media report that Juventus will officially announce their deal with Fernando Llorente on Thursday afternoon. The Bianconeri have confirmed they are in advanced negotiations with the player, whose contract with Athletic Bilbao expires in June. This means he is free to discuss his future with any club and can sign a contract for next season. According to Spanish sources, Juve are set to announce Llorente’s arrival tomorrow at 11.00 GMT. They maintain that Juventus made several offers to Athletic Bilbao to buy the striker during the January transfer window, but were rebuffed every time.

Marotta: 'Advanced talks for Llorente' Jan 19, 2013 Juventus director general Beppe Marotta confirms they are “at an advanced stage” for Fernando Llorente and will not sell Arturo Vidal. There were reports this week that Athletic Bilbao star Llorente’s representatives were in Turin thrashing out the final details of a contract, as he will be a free agent in June. “We are looking to the future and monitored those players who will be out of contract, among them the Basque striker, who we are at an advanced stage with.” There were also rumours in the media that Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were planning big money offers for Vidal. “We have received requests for our players, but are generally more accustomed to buying than selling,” added Marotta. “It’s no real surprise that Bayern want him, but there are no offers.”

Athletic Bilbao turn down final Juventus offer for Llorente The Primera Division outfit have decided not to accept the Old Lady's final bid for the 27-year-old, who is now set to stay at San Mames until the end of the season. Jan 19, 2013 EXCLUSIVE By Romeo Agresti Athletic Bilbao have told Juventus that they have no intention to sell Fernando Llorente in the January transfer window, despite the Serie A side issuing them with an ultimatum, Goal.com understands. The Bianconeri made a final offer of €4 million plus a €300,000 bonus if they successfully defend their Scudetto earlier this week, giving Athletic until Friday to make a decision. The Basque side have opted not to accept the bid, though, meaning that the Spain international will stay put until his contract expires at the end of the season. Juventus had earmarked the 27-year-old striker as the perfect addition to their attack this winter, but they will now have to wait until June to get their man. Llorente will join the Serie A champions on a Bosman at the end of the season on a four-year deal worth €4m per annum after Juve agreed personal terms with the forward back in October. The Spain international told Athletic at the start of the 2012-13 campaign that he did not want to extend his expiring deal, and has since been struggling for game time, scoring just once in 12 Liga games.

Juve wrap up terms with Llorente Jan 18, 2013 A representative of Fernando Llorente is reportedly in Turin finalising personal terms ahead of a summer move to Juventus. The Spanish international will join the Bianconeri on a free transfer once his contract with Athletic Bilbao expires in June. The centre-forward will put pen to paper on a deal until 2017, with an option for an additional season in Turin. Llorente will net a basic salary of €4.5m a season, but that will rise depending on the activation of certain bonus clauses. An official Llorente announcement could be made by the Bianconeri at some stage over the next 10 days.

Juventus make final €4m offer for Llorente The Scudetto holders are still hoping to sign the Spaniard in January, but would turn to Ciro Immobile should their bid for the Athletic striker prove unsuccessful. Jan 16, 2013 EXCLUSIVE By Romeo Agresti Juventus have presented Athletic Bilbao with a final offer of €4 million for Fernando Llorente, and have given the Basque outfit until Friday to make a decision, Goal.com understands. The Basque side recently announced that the Bianconeri had opened talks with Llorente over a free transfer in the summer when the striker's contract expires, but the Italian champions remain keen to sign the Spaniard in January. Athletic turned down a first offer from the Turin powerhouse earlier in January, but they have now made a final offer worth €4m, plus a €300,000 bonus if Juventus successfully defend their Serie A title. A winter transfer remains a complicated matter as Llorente's current employers are determined to hold on to the player until his contract runs out. The Primera Division side do not need the funds a transfer would generate, having sold Javi Martinez to Bayern Munich for €40m in the summer transfer window, and they see keeping the 27-year-old Llorente at the club as a matter of pride. Should Athletic turn down Juventus' ultimatum, the Bianconeri will look to immediately purchase the other half of Ciro Immobile's contract from Genoa, while they could leave the Italy Under-21 star at his co-owned club until the end of the season if Llorente arrives this month. Juventus held talks with Genoa over Immobile on Tuesday, but the Grifone have told the Serie A leaders that they want to sign a replacement for the striker first before letting go of the player.

Llorente must mark the start of Juventus' striker search, not the end The Athletic Bilbao forward looks set to arrive in Turin this summer, but while he is an improvement on what the Bianconeri currently have, they still need to aim higher. Jan 6, 2013 COMMENT By Kris Voakes | Italian Football Writer It was hardly regarded as the breaking of a state secret when Athletic Bilbao announced this week that their striker Fernando Llorente was in talks with Juventus over a summer Bosman free transfer. The Bianconeri’s interest in the 27-year-old has long been obvious, and the Italian champions are still believed to hold some hope of bringing forward the Spain international’s potential arrival by paying up to €7 million for his signature this month. However, while the addition of Llorente to their squad would be a real statement of intent from the Old Lady, the need to continue aiming high is a great one. The 21-cap marksman would undoubtedly be the figurehead of a strike force which has underperformed massively in recent seasons, but one cannot shake the feeling that there is a further echelon of centre-forward from which Juve could select a true superstar if they so wish. 'STRONG, FAST AND COMMANDING' THE SPANISH VIEW ON LLORENTE "Llorente was key to the fantastic form of Athletic Bilbao last season, scoring a career-high 29 goals as the Basques reached the final of the Europa League and the Copa del Rey in Marcelo Bielsa's first season as coach at San Mames. "But Llorente delayed over a contract offer in the summer and began to doubt his future at the club, particularly after team-mate Javi Martinez joined Bayern Munich in a big-money deal. Llorente, like Martinez, has had problems with Bielsa and has seen himself sent off in training this term, as well as being forced to spend much of the campaign on the bench. At 27, he is also keen to play Champions League football, something he believes he is unlikely to fulfil at Athletic. "A traditional and old-fashioned centre-forward, Llorente is strong, fast, commanding in the air and with a fierce shot. A World Cup winner and European champion with Spain, he received an ovation at Real Madrid recently and has attracted interest from numerous clubs across Europe. Once his head is back and focused firmly on football, he'll be a superb signing for his next club." Ben Hayward, Goal.com's Spanish Football Writer. The Scudetto holders may well get a great deal of success out of Llorente, but they are not a club that needs to sell themselves short. Money is always a factor, but with regular sell-outs at Juventus Stadium, newly-added Champions League funds, and their standing as one of the most marketable club histories in the game, the Bianconeri have no excuse not to compete for the signings of players like Edinson Cavani and Radamel Falcao if they really want to aim high in Europe. There are other options too, with the likes of Robert Lewandowski and David Villa also potentially on the market, with each offering attributes which Juve would do well to add to their locker. The likely arrival of Llorente gives them a boost, but a forward line which was led in the goals column by Alessandro Matri’s 10 strikes last term needs more than that in the longer term. Goals from midfield are all well and good, but in tight games on the big occasion, the central department have more to do than just steamroller weak opposition, and it is on these nights that Juventus sometimes need to show they have more power to their arm. Mirko Vucinic adds flair, but is now eight years removed from his last and only 20-goal season. Sebastian Giovinco also shows creativity, but he too is not a heavyweight supplier of goals. Llorente’s skill-set fits well with what Juve lack, with his ability in the channels matching his qualities in the air and in physical combat, but he is yet to play Champions League football, and few can calculate what a player can offer in that most prestiged of tournaments before he has had the chance to prove it for himself. There is no guarantee of goals from any player, of course, but then that is why the Cavanis and Falcaos are so highly-valued. The move for Llorente feels like a great January signing. A player of obvious quality who is not having a great time with his current club, could add a big boost to his new side, and could use the remaining five months of the season to give the management pause for thought ahead of the full summer transfer window to come. But a figurehead summer signing? Maybe not. A club like Juventus holds great sway in the market, and if they play their cards right they can ensure that Llorente is only the start of their renovation up front. Having put together a midfield and a defence of several differing attributes in recent times, now is the time to do the same with their strike force.