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Inter have nothing to do with Calciopoli scandal - Massimo Moratti The Inter president does not fear that the 2006 Scudetto will be taken from his side as he repeats his stance that the club took no part in the controversial scandal. Jun 28, 2011 Massimo Moratti has reiterated that Inter had no involvement in the Calciopoli scandal that rocked Italian football in 2006. The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) stripped Juventus of their 2005 and 2006 crowns because of their participation in the scandal, but the Turin side asked for the honours to be returned in May 2010, as new evidence highlighted that around 16 of the 20 top-flight clubs took part in the affair. A decision on Juventus' appeal is due in the upcoming days, but Inter president Moratti doesn't fear the outcome, telling the club's official website: "I've always had the same feeling. I am absolutely convinced that we have nothing to do with Calciopoli, so I hope and I believe that justice will run its path." Juve's 2005 Scudetto title was struck from the records but not awarded to another team, while their 2006 crown was eventually handed to Inter.

Roma would consider selling Vucinic to Juventus if Marchisio is part of the deal Capital-based side would ponder parting company with the Montenegro international if the Piedmont side insert their Italian midfield player into the arrangement. Jun 28, 2011 Roma may consider selling striker Mirko Vucinic to Juventus if the Turin-based side insert Claudio Marchisio as part of a deal, according to reports. Juventus have focused their efforts on bringing in Sergio Aguero of Atletico Madrid as their first choice striker. Vucinic, 27, is seen as an alternative for Antonio Conte's men if the Aguero chase proves fruitless, but Roma are not keen on losing him. Director Walter Sabatini has been clear on insisting the Montenegrin stay, but La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport reports the insertion of Marchisio could change that. The Italian midfielder would fit into Luis Enrique's side as Conte's 4-2-4 system may prove to have its limits as Andrea Pirlo is expected to start regularly. It is said a transfer for Vucinic, who is tied to Roma until 2013, would cost around

Why Lichtsteiner is the man to end Juventus' five-year full-back nightmare The right-back should prove to be an astute purchase by under-fire Giuseppe Marotta, and will more than complement his Swiss counterpart Reto Ziegler on the opposing flank. Jun 28, 2011 Four trophyless campaigns, five coaches, numerous signings and hundreds of millions of Euros later, Juventus have remained without any worthy replacements for their once glittering array of full-backs. This summer, though, they appear to have finally captured a player who fits the bill. In the season preceding Calciopoli, then-coach Fabio Capello had World Cup winners Gianluca Zambrotta and Lilian Thuram at his disposal, and the duo would eventually depart for Barcelona after a trophy-laden spell in Turin. Their back-up options, Federico Balzaretti, Alessandro Birindelli and Gianluca Pessotto, were also several classes above the current crop. Since then, Juve have decided to ignore these areas of the field, opting to allocate very little of their budget on their backline and instead sign cheaper, lower-quality alternatives in the hope of striking lucky - from the likes of failed Bosman arrivals Zdenek Grygera and Hasan Salihamidzic to the hugely underwhelming loanees Armand Traore and Marco Motta. Even when it appeared they had groomed a potential successor in the form of Domenico Criscito, he was criminally underused, forcing him to look elsewhere to ply his trade. However, with the capture of Stephan Lichtsteiner, after a drawn-out pursuit of the player whose attacking verve has gained many admirers for both club and country, Juve have landed a player who possesses impressive pedigree, and has proven himself to be more than capable from a defensive perspective. After his exploits with Lille, where he starred in Claude Puel's promising young outfit - alongside the likes of Mathieu Bodmer, Jean Makoun, Michel Bastos and Peter Odemwingie in his debut season - the Swiss international earned a move to Lazio after Euro 2008, with the capital giants beating off strong interest for his signature. Since arriving at the Stadio Olimpico, Lichtsteiner has gone from strength to strength, first under the guidance of Delio Rossi, then, most recently, for Edy Reja. The former had initially overseen the departure of fan favourite Valon Behrami to West Ham, but it didn't take long for Lazio's support to warm to their new arrival, thanks to his energetic and committed displays which have given the Rome club another dimension in their forward play. Aleksandar Kolarov always seemed to overshadow him during their stint together in Rome, as highlighted by his big-money transfer to Manchester City, but Lichtsteiner remained a dependable and consistent servant, albeit without the Serb's explosive left-foot. The 27-year-old's enthusiasm for the cause is sure to gain him many fans in his new surroundings, and could even prove to be the perfect signing for the development of second-choice full backs Motta and Paolo De Ceglie, as they will now have better quality competition to aspire to match. New boss Antonio Conte is an advocate of attacking football, with his wide players utilised to great effect in a 4-2-4 formation. The signing of Reto Ziegler gave fans a glimpse of their new direction, and Lichtsteiner's inclusion will only further emphasise this philosophy as both are renowned for their lung-bursting runs down the flanks, whilst proving to be a prolific source of assists. There may be a degree of malcontent from a minority, as Lichtsteiner's signature all but ends the pursuit for Hoffenheim full-back Andreas Beck, who was the first choice of many supporters. However, this is the first time in years that a significant part of the budget has been spent on a wide defender, a sign of intent from the club's owners, Exor, and also of a better understanding from the management as to what is needed to improve the team. All in all, credit should be given to general director Giuseppe Marotta, not just if the stopper performs to his potential, but also for successfully negotiating a knock-down price of around

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