Socrates

The 2006 Scudetto is mine and Juventus will remember it as theirs - Fabio Cannavaro The former Italy international has spoken about the Calciopoli scandal and he still considers the revoked Serie A title from 2006 as a victory for the Turin side. Jul 11, 2011 Former Juventus defender Fabio Cannavaro, who ended his professional career at the weekend, has stated that he considers the 2006 Serie A title to be his and added that the Turin side will remember it as theirs, too, despite the Calciopoli scandal striking it from the record. Juventus finished first in the table in 2006, but their title was eventually taken away from them and handed to Inter because of their involvement in the scandal. "I feel that the 2006 Scudetto is mine and Juventus will remember it as theirs, regardless of what the statistics say," Cannavaro was quoted as saying by La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport. The 2006 Ballon d'Or winner then went on to defend former Inter president Giacinto Facchetti, who has been accused of trying to influence results during his spell in charge of the Giuseppe Meazza side. "I want to point out Facchetti was an extraordinary man. During the under-21 years he taught me a great deal and I will always take his lessons with me. "Even if he made some mistakes, the man himself must not be attacked." Cannavaro is not the first high-profile name who has moved to defend Facchetti as current Inter president Massimo Moratti and former Italy international Gigi Riva previously spoke highly of the deceased Inter legend.

Juventus have the quality to return to Champions League - Lichtsteiner The new signing is brimming with confidence ahead of the new season and expects his club to be back among Europe's elite sooner rather than later. Jul 11, 2011 New Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner has voiced his opinion that the Turin giants have what it takes to qualify for Champions League football again in the season ahead. Juve only finished seventh in the Serie A table last term, but the full-back is determined to do better in 2011-12 and underlined his ambition to succeed with his new club. "This team has quality, if we work well we have a great opportunity to get back into the Champions League. I had an enjoyable experience in Rome, but Juventus are Juventus; the team has a rich history. It

Lichtsteiner - Juventus have addressed their full back problems The italian giants have made moves to address the chronic issue in the Italian game, which has proven a particular ailment for the bianconeri over the past 12 months. Jul 11, 2011 It's not unusual for even the biggest of clubs to find fault with an area of their first-team squad, indeed it's a natural course of action for any team looking to stay at the top to be on the lookout for ways to improve. But Italy's Juventus found themselves in a state of flux over the very same issue at one time or another last season. The traditional powerhouse struggled to answer questions asked of their full-backs during the course of 2010-11 and they have made moves on the market to resolve the problem ahead of the new Serie A campaign. Whether looking for answers within Italy, across Europe, or indeed by scouring the world, Juve have managed to plug gaps in the positions causing consternation to many clubs across the peninsula. The Bianconeri were without doubt the most guilty in Italy in terms of their inability to plug the gaps in their defensive flanks last season as a series of short term fixes fell short of what was required. Marco Motta's big-money loan deal proved troublesome from day one, giving Zdenek Grygera the chance to play more games than Luigi Del Neri would have originally expected. This allowed youngster Frederik Sorensen to jump the queue for the first-team by switching from his more familiar centre-back slot. Even Hasan Salihamidzic got another look-in at right-back. At left-back there were even more players tried out. Fabio Grosso proved that the passing of time has treated him badly, but Paolo De Ceglie was cut down only by a nasty knee injury. After that blow, Juve barely recovered defensively. Armand Traore had one or two good games, but that was the best review that could be given of his loan spell as Giorgio Chiellini was forced to shift across from centre-back and even right-winger Simone Pepe tried out on the left of defence at one point. SOLUTION A Swiss double has been the favoured course of action at Vinovo as Stephan Lichtsteiner was signed from Lazio for just under

Aguero & Rossi are not the answer to Juventus' problems - Luciano Moggi The club's ex-general director is not convinced that either forward can help the Turin side back on their feet and also discussed Roma's potential new signing Erik Lamela. Jul 10, 2011 Former Juventus general director Luciano Moggi, who was in charge of the Turin side from 1994 until 2006, has voiced his opinion that Atletico Madrid attacker Sergio Aguero and Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi are not the big players that the Serie A club need to dominate the Italian league again. Current general director Giuseppe Marotta recently revealed that the club are interested in Rossi, while they haven't given up hopes of signing Aguero either. "In my opinion Aguero is not the big name or champion who can resolve the problems of a team. Mind you, neither is Giuseppe Rossi," stated Moggi to Radio Sportiva. The former Juve supremo then went on to discuss Roma's transfer policy and made it clear that he has his doubts whether soon-to-be new signing Erik Lamela has what it takes to succeed in Serie A. "Roma have several interesting players, like Lamela. He does what he wants with the ball at his feet, so would be excellent in a circus. How he does on a playing field in Serie A is another matter." River Plate president Daniel Passarella revealed on Saturday that Lamela has already joined Roma, but the Stadio Olimpico club have yet to officially confirm the 19-year-old's transfer.

I came to Juventus to win - Andrea Pirlo The Italy international is very pleased with the way he has been received by the fans and is keen to win trophies under head coach Antonio Conte. Jul 10, 2011 New Juventus signing Andrea Pirlo has made it clear that he's determined to win silverware with his new club and has also spoken of his respect for new head coach Antonio Conte. The experienced midfielder left Serie A champions Milan for the Turin side this summer and Pirlo is full of ambition. "Juventus have always been an opponent to beat, but now I

Giuseppe Marotta admits interest in Giuseppe Rossi Italian chief says club are making progress in move for the Italian, but stressed that Rossi is not the only option available to the Turin club as they look to strengthen. Jul 10, 2011 Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta admits progress is being made in attempts to sign Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi, but added that the striker is not the club's only transfer target. Last week the 24-year-old

Marchisio impressed by new Juventus team-mate Andrea Pirlo The former AC-Milan midfielder joined the Turin club earlier in the summer and the 25-year-old has heralded his side's new signing. Jul 9, 2011 Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio has stated that he has been impressed with new team-mate Andrea Pirlo, as the pair train together for the Turin outfit in pre-season. The veteran Italian international joined Antonio Conte's side from Serie A champions AC Milan in May to start what looks likely to be a busy summer of transfer activity for his new club. Marchisio is enjoying training with his national colleague, and feels the 74-times capped playmaker has started his career at Juve well. "Who has impressed me the most during these first few days of training? That

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Attacks on Facchetti hurt more than possibility of losing 2006 Scudetto - Massimo Moratti Inter president has made it clear that the accusations against his predecessor trouble him more than than potentially being stripped of the 2006 league title. Jul 7, 2011 Inter president Massimo Moratti has stated that the attacks against former club president Giacinto Facchetti are more damaging to him than the possibility of the club losing their 2006 Scudetto. The Italian football association's (FIGC) leading investigator, Stefano Palazzi, revealed last week that Inter have committed sporting fraud during Calciopoli, and then-president Facchetti allegedly had regular contact with former referee designators Paolo Bergamo and Pier Luigi Pairetto in an attempt to influence games. "The Scudetto has become a secondary matter if you like. Still important, but secondary. What was totally unexpected, serious and perhaps even irregular, was this attack on a person who is no longer here, who can't defend himself," Moratti said on the Inter website. "Not in the ordinary sense but juridically; he doesn't have the opportunity to defend himself from the accusations of a public prosecutor. That's why I find it all so tasteless, regardless of the fact that none of the accusations against Facchetti could be followed up." Moratti then went on to speak of his admiration of former Italy international Gigi Riva, who moved to defend Facchetti earlier this week. "I've seen that others who knew Facchetti have also had their say. Gigi Riva is a wonderful person, besides being a member of the FIGC. He has always been like that: determined, sure, calm, reserved, not one for too many words. "His were lovely, instinctive, strong words

Juventus deserve more respect from Figc - Andrea Agnelli The club president has expressed his dismay with the way the Turin side have been treated in the Calciopoli scandal and demands recognition of the club's achievements. Jul 7, 2011 Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has voiced his opinion that the Turin side don't receive the respect they deserve from the Italian Football Federation (Figc). The Serie A giants recently submitted a petition to the Figc requesting that the 2005-06 Scudetto that was assigned to Inter following Juventus' involvement in the Calciopoli scandal be revoked, and Agnell is far from happy with the way they've been treated in the wake of their request, given recent developments that suggest that Inter were also culpable. "After 15 months from the petition submitted to Figc, I want respect from the authorities, towards Juventus, their managers, players and fans. This club participated in the history of Italian football and of Italian football in the world. This team provided 27 players out of 44 in the four World Cup finals," the supremo was quoted as saying on the club's official website. "In 2006, we were the only club to suffer from serious economical damages, discernible in various hundreds of millions of Euros. Now we noticed that the other clubs, especially Inter, had unclear behaviours." Agnelli went on to say that Juventus are eagerly anticipating the Figc's final decision on the matter. "We

Andrea Pirlo convinced he made right choice in leaving AC Milan as he aims to win titles in Turin Italy international says he is in Turin to win as he targets big honours next term regardless of whether transfer targets Aguero or Rossi arrive at the club. Jul 6, 2011 Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo has no regrets over leaving champions AC Milan because he is convinced he can win trophies with his new club. The 32-year-old Italy international left San Siro after a decade when the Serie A winners decided not to renew his contract. And Pirlo believes his joining Juventus will help the club get back towards the big time as he aims for titles at the Stadio delle Alpi. "I am very convinced by my choice," he told the press as Juventus launched their new kits for next season. "I came here to win and I think this was the right choice. The club is working in the best ways and now we will see who will arrive." Juventus have been linked with Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero, with Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi lined up as an alternative. But Pirlo has no preference over who should join him at Vinovo. "Aguero or Rossi? The important thing is that people who have the will to do well and to help us win will arrive," he concluded. Pirlo's deal with the Serie A club expires in 2014.