Socrates

Pirlo trying to persuade Nesta to join him at Juventus The centre-back is contemplating retirement but is said to be mulling over following in the footsteps of his one-time club colleague and making the move to Turin. Mar 30, 2012 Andrea Pirlo is reportedly trying to convince former AC Milan team-mate Alessandro Nesta to join him at Juventus. Nesta is out of contract at the end of the season and the former Italy international, who has been plagued by back problems in recent years, is said to be contemplating his future in the game. However, according to Il Corriere dello Sport, the legendary defender has now been persuaded by Pirlo to consider following in his footsteps by swapping Milan for Turin. The veteran playmaker, who has been a key component in Juve's resurgence this season, joined the Bianconeri on a free transfer from the Rossoneri last summer. However, Nesta's current situation is different to the one that Pirlo found himself in last season because Milan are keen to hold on to the centre-back and club CEO Adriano Galliani is already putting together a contract extension offer for the former Lazio captain. Juve, though, are willing to guarantee Nesta that he will only be used in Champions League games and important Serie A clashes, in light of his persistent back pain. The World Cup winner joined Milan from Lazio in 2002 and has won two Serie A titles and two Champions League crowns during his time at San Siro.

Real Madrid & Manchester City never made a concrete offer for me, says Chiellini The Italy international has revealed that he never received a serious offer from either side, while admitting that Juventus face a tough task to beat Milan to the Serie A title. Mar 30, 2012 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has revealed that he has never received a concrete offer from either Manchester City or Real Madrid. The Italy international has been linked with the Liga leaders and the Premier League side in the past, but Chiellini has stressed that he was never close to leaving the Bianconeri for an adventure abroad. "Real Madrid and Manchester City? Obviously when you're a footballer your name is going to be mentioned in a transfer story every six months," Chiellini stated to Il Giornale. "However, I have never received any concrete offers." The centre-back then went on to discuss his side's chances of overtaking AC Milan in the Serie A table, and echoed his coach Antonio Conte's sentiments about the Old Lady's fading title chances. "The Rossoneri are reigning champions and have a four-point lead. The coach is just being realistic when he says it will be difficult. "We are taking it one game at a time and are focusing on our next task against Napoli for now. We have to keep our feet on the ground.

Marchisio: Juventus can win the Scudetto The Italy international has underlined the importance of the next few games for the Bianconeri, and feels that that could go all the way to win the Serie A title. Mar 30, 2012 Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio believes that the Old Lady could win the Serie A title this term, and has stressed that the next few weeks will be crucial in the race for the Scudetto. The Bianconeri currently sit second in the league table, trailing leaders AC Milan by four points, and Marchisio feels that Juventus have what it takes to overtake their rivals in the remainder of the campaign. "We still believe in the title. We are still unbeaten, and Juve have never enjoyed a similar unbeaten run before. We have to believe in the Scudetto," Marchisio said to La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. "If we keep this up, we will be playing for the title right until the end. The next few games will be very important. "Regardless of what happens though, we all have a feeling that Juventus are at the start of an important cycle, worthy of the club Juve."

Chiellini: Milan virtually uncatchable Mar 30, 2012 Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini is well aware of how difficult it will be to beat Milan to the Scudetto. “It’s easier on the PlayStation…” The Old Lady are currently four points behind the leaders in the table and boss Antonio Conte considers the Diavolo as favourites. “I think the Coach is just being a realist,” the defender told Il Giornale. “The Rossoneri are reigning champions and have four more points than us. “It is certainly easier to beat them on the PlayStation than it is in real life,” the Italian international smiled. “We are just taking things one game at a time, keeping our feet on the ground and concentrating on our next task which is Napoli.” Chiellini, 27, is one of the club’s most influential players which has seen him linked with the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid in the past. “Well, if you are a footballer then it is inevitable that your name will be mentioned in a transfer story every six months,” he continued. “I have never received any concrete offers from anyone though.”

New Juve deals for Matri and Bonucci Mar 30, 2012 Juventus will offer Alessandro Matri and Leonardo Bonucci new contracts in Turin, claims the giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. Although both players are presently committed to the club until June 2015, it is being claimed that they will be offered fresh terms until June 2017. Matri is Juventus’ top scorer in Serie A so far this term with 10 goals, while Bonucci has made 23 Serie A appearances for a side which has played with three centre-backs on occasions under Antonio Conte. The Turin giants, just four points off Serie A leaders Milan, are also set to offer new deals to Gigi Buffon, Andrea Barzagli and boss Conte in the near future.

Serie A - 10^ Giornata - Ritorno - 25-3-2012 (ore 20:45) 2 - 0 Martín Cáceres (57′) Alessandro Del Piero (71′) Juventus Stadium - Torino Arbitro: Andrea De Marco Spettatori: 34000‎ Serie A - Caceres e Del Piero stendono l'Inter La Juventus vince 2-0 nel posticipo della 29esima giornata e torna a -4 dal Milan: dopo un primo tempo di sofferenza e quattro parate straordinarie di Buffon, la partita si decide con un'incornata dell'uruguaiano (53') e la prima rete in campionato di Del Piero (71'). Eurosport - Domenica, 25 marzo 2012 L'orgoglio ha retto un tempo. Poi è venuta fuori tutta la forza, tutto il carattere, di una Juventus che merita di lottare sino all'ultimo per la vittoria dello scudetto. Il posticipo della 29esima giornata di Serie A finisce 2-0 per i bianconeri, che soffrono sino al 53', quando Caceres sblocca il risultato con un colpo di testa sugli sviluppi di un corner. Prima c'era stata soltanto l'Inter e un grandissimo Buffon. Dopo è stata soltanto festa, con Del Piero che entra e segna il raddoppio (71') e tiene la Juventus a -4 dal Milan capolista. L'Inter resta a quota 41, nonostante i segnali di risveglio. Un'annata storta si vede anche da partite come questa. BARZAGLI RECUPERA, FORLAN TITOLARE - Antonio Conte torna alla formazione tipo, recuperando in extremis Barzagli che parte titolare in mezzo alla difesa con Chiellini. Sulla fascia sinistra va De Ceglie, con il conseguente spostamento in panchina di Bonucci. L'unico assente è lo squalificato Lichtsteiner, rimpiazzato da Caceres a destra. Per il resto, il 4-3-3 bianconero si completa con centrocampo e attacco tradizionali. E Matri si prende il posto di prima punta. Claudio Ranieri sceglie invece un 4-3-2-1 con la novità di Forlan che dopo le polemiche di domenica scorsa torna titolare al fianco di Milito. A centrocampo il trio è composto da Zanetti, Stankovic e Obi, mentre Poli va sulla trequarti in pressing su Pirlo. In difesa, Maicon, Lucio e Samuel sono coadiuvati da Nagatomo. In panchina vanno Ranocchia, Chivu, Cambiasso, Pazzini e Guarin, alla prima convocazione in nerazzurro. Fuori per infortunio Sneijder e Alvarez. BUFFON DICE NO A UNA GRANDE INTER - Inizia la partita e subito si capisce che è un'Inter disposta a tutto pur di non sfigurare. I nerazzurri sembrano molto reattivi fisicamente, grazie soprattutto a due giovani come Obi e Poli, bravi in copertura e pronti a ribaltare l'azione a centrocampo. Al 14' arriva la prima occasione del match ed è nerazzurra: Vucinic perde palla sulla propria trequarti, Maicon recupera e serve Milito. L'argentino però strozza la conclusione dal cuore dell'area e così Buffon mette a referto la prima parata decisiva della serata. Non l'ultima del primo tempo, perché il portiere della Juventus, per distacco il migliore dei suoi, salva il risultato in altre due riprese. Al 29' compie un miracolo su Forlan che spizza di testa un corner di Maicon, mentre al 32' dice no a Milito lanciato in profondità e autore una pericolosissima conclusione di collo. Finita qui? No, perché al 35' e al 40' Buffon smanaccia ancora alla grande due botte da fuori di Obi e Stankovic. La Juventus c'è, ma si vede soltanto nella fase centrale, quando riesce a rilanciare in transizione. Peccato per i bianconeri che Matri sprechi due ottime chance. La prima è concessa da Lucio su un cross di Caceres (17'), ma l'attaccante di casa non angola di testa e facilita l'intervento di Julio Cesar. La seconda arriva al 25', un rigore in movimento servito ancora da Caceres e sprecato con palla altissima. I bianconeri si fermano qui e rischiano grosso nel finale. Lo 0-0 con cui si va all'intervallo sta stretto all'Inter. CONTE CAMBIA: CACERES E DEL PIERO FANNO 2-0 - Quanto può durare l'Inter a livello fisico? L'interrogativo dell'intervallo è questo. E la risposta arriva in avvio di secondo tempo. I nerazzurri ripartono bene, ma Conte azzecca la mossa con un colpo da rischiatutto. Al 53' toglie sia Pepe che Matri inserendo Bonucci e Del Piero. Il modulo diventa un 3-5-2, l'Inter fatica a prendere le misure e concede una discesa a Marchisio che conquista così un corner. Pirlo batte bene, la difesa nerazzurra difende malissimo. E Caceres di testa insacca l'1-0, alla prima vera occasione della ripresa. La partita finisce qui, perché l'Inter non reagisce, nonostante al 67' Ranieri provi a rispondere a Conte con un altro doppio cambio, decisamente meno azzeccato di quello del collega. Escono Obi e Poli, i due migliori del centrocampo, per Faraoni e Pazzini. Il modulo diventa un 4-3-1-2 con Forlan dietro alle due punte, ma non c'è la scossa. La difesa va in sofferenza, Vucinic ne potrebbe approfittare al 70', ma il montenegrino si divora un gol fatto solo davanti a Julio Cesar. Fortuna per Conte che Del Piero è di un'altra pasta e lo dimostra un minuto dopo. Palla dentro di Vidal, difesa a vuoto e il capitano bianconero insacca il primo gol in campionato, quello che fa esplodere lo stadio e chiude definitivamente la partita. Conte mette Quagliarella al posto di Vucinic (73') e preme ancora sull'acceleratore. Al 77' proprio il nuovo entrato conclude da un passo su imbeccata di Chiellini, Maicon però salva sulla linea. E all'85' Chiellini va ancora vicino al terzo gol con una splendida incornata messa in corner da un miracolo di Julio Cesar. Finisce così, 2-0 in fondo può bastare. Un risultato giusto a metà, per un gran secondo tempo di una grande squadra come la Juventus. Il cuore dell'Inter, però, avrebbe forse meritato di più. CONTE DA SCUDETTO, INTER SFORTUNATA - L'imbattibilità continua per la Juventus, che tiene il passo del Milan e resta a -4 dalla vetta. Uno scoglio importante è alle spalle, soprattutto alla luce di un primo tempo difficilissimo. La notizia migliore viene dalla panchina. Perché Conte per la prima volta ha dato spazio a Del Piero in una partita decisiva e bloccata, dimostrando di non essere bravo soltanto a impostare un incontro ma anche a cambiarlo a gara in corso. Un fattore importantissimo nella lotta scudetto, soprattutto se ad essere gettato nella mischia è uno dell'esperienza di Del Piero, al secondo gol in una settimana dopo quello al Milan. Che dire, invece, di un'Inter che per una volta gioca anche bene? Non è annata. E, da stasera, i nerazzurri sono addirittura noni in campionato, scavalcati di una lunghezza dal Catania. Meglio che queste nove giornate passino in fretta. Mattia Fontana - Eurosport Juventus - Internazionale 2-0

Lazio’s Hernanes not worth €30m Mar 28, 2012 Former Juventus director general Luciano Moggi has warned the Old Lady of making a move for Lazio midfielder Hernanes. The Brazilian international has been paired with the Turin giants in recent weeks, but the ex-transfer guru is not convinced. “Hernanes is not worth €30m,” Moggi said in an interview with Radio Mana Mana Sport on Wednesday afternoon. “He still has to prove himself. Sometimes he does good things, but then the light goes out and you don’t see him. “He’s too inconsistent.” Some reports were claiming that Juve could tempt Lazio into releasing him by offering cash, as well as the services of Milos Krasic and Fabio Quagliarella. “That seems to be fantasy,” Moggi continued. “If there was any truth in that then Juventus would be crazy…” Moggi left Juventus in the summer of 2006, just before he was banned from the game for his involvement in Calciopoli. Hernanes, 26, has scored eight goals in 27 League games so far this season.

Buffon didn’t expect title bid Mar 28, 2012 Gianluigi Buffon has admitted that he is surprised that Juventus are fighting for the Scudetto this season. The Old Lady are currently second in the table after finishing the last two campaigns in a lowly seventh place. “I thought we had little chance, no chance actually, of reaching these heights,” he told the Corriere dello Sport. “I hoped we would, but I didn’t believe. “The Scudetto race is still not over. Milan have a four-point lead over us, but we certainly won’t give up. We’ll have to give everything until the very end.” Juventus are actually unbeaten this season and will face Napoli in the Coppa Italia Final on May 20. Buffon has highlighted boss Antonio Conte as the inspiration. “The secret was the ambition of our Coach from the very first day, supported by hard work and on field instructions,” he stated. “Our sweat, our strength and our sacrifices pushed us forward, as did the new stadium and the desire to cancel out two bad seasons.” Buffon, now 34, has returned to his highest levels after some struggles last term. He’s also keen on an extension to his contract which currently runs until 2013. “You can take criticism, but only up to a certain point,” he noted. “I know that the first six months following injury were not my best, but I had undergone an operation and I think I could have been allowed two or three mistakes. “I played well in a few of those games, but the situation was different as Juve were struggling. “My future? I’ll stay at Juventus for as long as I still feel useful. I don’t want to steal money from them.” Juventus currently have the best defensive record in the Division and that is also down to the individual brilliance of the Italian international. “My most important save was at Udine against Isla, then against Boateng in the home game against Milan. “At San Siro too, against Mexes and Muntari. Everyone talked about the ghost-goal, but forgot that my two saves were not so bad.” Juventus are next in action on Sunday when they take on Napoli in a dress rehearsal of the Italian Cup finale. “Napoli are the Italian side that I most admire,” Buffon continued. “I think that they, along with us, play the most entertaining football and you can see the hand of the Coach in their play. “But we want to lift that trophy. We need to start winning again to trigger an important mechanism. If we do then we’ll have the Italian Super Cup to play for three months later.”

Buffon credits Conte for Juventus revival The Italy captain has been taken aback by the club's remarkable transformation since the arrival of the former Bianconeri midfielder from Siena last summer. Mar 28, 2012 Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon believes that coach Antonio Conte deserves all of the credit for the club's resurgence this season. Little was expected of the Bianconeri after successive seventh-placed finishes in Serie A but they are currently battling it out with AC Milan for the Scudetto and have already secured their place in May's Coppa Italia final. And Buffon believes that Conte's arrival from Siena last summer served as the catalyst for the club's rapid transformation from also-rans to title contenders. "The secret of our success is the ambition our coach has," the Italy captain explained to the Il Corriere dello Sport. "He has shown that ambition since day one and has combined that with hard work. "Conte has brought a new mentality to the club. He has pushed us to sweat, to find strength and to undergo hard work in order to cancel out the last two disappointing campaigns. "He brings that winning mindset to the club every day based on his own hard-working, committed character." However, Buffon admitted that he did not envisage Conte turning things around in such a short period of time. "I certainly didn't expect us to have the campaign we have had so far, although I did hope we could do well," the former Parma man revealed. "Now we have a Coppa Italia final to look forward to and we will not give up in the Scudetto race."

Chiellini hopes AC Milan defeat Barcelona The Italian stopper is hopeful that the Rossoneri can eliminate Barca and progress in the Champions League, while urging Juve to focus on their own Serie A title race. Mar 27, 2012 Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini has admitted that he will support AC Milan in their upcoming Champions League quarter-final tie against Barcelona. Milan host the Catalan giants on Wednesday in the first leg, and with the Rossoneri being the only Italian club left in Europe, Chiellini is hoping that they will be able to progress in the competition. "Every fan will be watching the match on Wednesday," Chiellini is quoted as saying by ANSA. "For us Italians, it would be good that Milan could go as far as possible, especially at a moment when the deficit in the Uefa club ranking is so big." The 27-year-old then urged Juventus not to obsess with Milan's results in the Serie A title race despite the Bianconeri sitting four points adrift with nine matches left to play. "We have to think about winning our games, which will not be easy," Chiellini added. "The rest will depend on what Milan do, because if they continue like this, they will win."