6th – 13th December

 

Club News

Champions League Qualification – Juventus drew against Atlettico Madrid to secure progress to the final 16 of the Champions League. As Juve finished runners up, they could face any of the group winners which include Real Madrid, Monaco, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Chelsea and Porto. Click here to vote on which side you want to see Juve face. The draw takes place in Nyon on Monday 15th December at 12:00.

Lichtsteiner to renew – Stephan Lichsteiner gave an interview to JTV on Thursday and spoke of his ‘biggest dream to win the Champions League’ and how winning it in the Juve shirt would be the ‘best dream’. Gianluca Di Marzio reported earlier in the week that a renewal was close and the two parties have now provisionally agreed on a deal which would run until 2017. An announcement is expected in the coming weeks.

Fixture Changes – As is often the case, the Lega Serie A have announced various scheduling changes, including the following Juventus games:

Week 17 – Tuesday Jan 6 – Juventus-Inter – 20.00

Week 18 – Sunday Jan 11 – Napoli-Juventus – 19.45

Week 19 – Sunday Jan 18 – Juventus-Verona – 19.45

Week 22 – Saturday Feb 7 – Juventus-Milan – 19.45

Coppa Italia Schedule – The fixtures for the last 16 of the Coppa Italia have been announced – Juventus will host Hellas Verona on Thursday Jan 15. The quarter finals will be Wednesday Jan 28 – Parma/Cagliari V Juventus/Verona

Champions League Earnings – Juventus have reportedly secured 60.5m from this seasons Champions League.

   


 

Transfer News

Evra back to United ? – Manchester United have asked Patrice Evra if he wants to return to England. Juventus could bring back Paolo De Ceglie from Parma to play at LB. [GdS]

Montoya to Juve – Juventus have reportedly made contact with Barcelona’s Martin Montoya. Initially thought to be available for between €4- 5m, it’s been revealed his release clause is closer to €20m. Juan De Dios Carrasco [His agent] had the following to say [Speaking on Thursday] : “Tomorrow there will be a meeting with Barcelona to communicate a decision we have already taken, there are clubs interested in the player in England, in Italy and in Germany.” [Tuttomercatoweb] Fabio Paratici was pictured in Barcelona on Friday, apparently to negotiate the terms of Martin Montoya’s transfer [Gianluca Di Marzio]

 

Juve target KramaricRijeka are thought to have already rejected a €10m bid from Leicester City. Kramaric is being closely monitored by Juventus and Chelsea. [Tuttosport]

Valdes to Juve – Victor Valdes has offered himself to Juventus in January rather than Monaco or Manchester United [Sky Sport Italia]

Manolo Gabbiadini to Napoli – Napoli are on the verge of completing their signing of Manolo Gabbiadini. There will be a final meeting to clarify image rights. An €11m price has already been agreed for the forward co-owned by Sampdoria and Juventus. [GdS]

Juventus trade Giovinco for Savic? – Juventus could ask for Stefan Savic as part of a deal that sees Sebastian Giovinco go in the other direction. [Football Italia]

City to bid €62m for Pogba – The Daily Mail [I know, i know] report City will bid €62m for Pogba next summer as Yaya Toure is believed to be on his way out. Calciomercato on the other hand report that Juve would dismiss the offer given they already rejected a number of bids for the player in the summer. [Daily Mail / CalcioMercato]

Marrone to Werder Bremen? – Bremen want Luca Marrone on loan in January with an option to buy in the summer [Bild]

Toloi to Juve ? – Rafael Toloi’s agent confirms “The player would like a return to Italy. Juventus? There’s nothing definitive or official, no proposals. Just contacts, inquiries…” [Football Italia]

Kraev has trial at Juve – 17 year old Levski Sofia playmaker Bozhidar Kraev will spend 3 days on trial at Juventus.

 


Match results/Upcoming fixtures

Juventus 0 – 0 Atletico – Juventus got the point they needed against Atletico to advance to the last 16 of the Champions League.

 

Juventus – Sampdoria – Juventus face high-flying Sampdoria in the early kick off tomorrow morning. Match Preview and scouting report here.


Quotes of the week

Max Allegri: “We didn’t want to compromise a qualification I thought was thoroughly deserved, as we did not deserve to lose against Olympiacos and Atleti in Madrid.[Sky Sports Italia]

Diego Simeone [After Atletico’s 0-0 against Juventus] “Juventus are an excellent side with Marchisio out and some lads on the bench who are very talented. I can assure everyone it won’t be good to pick Juventus in the draw.” [Sky Sports Italia]

Fernando Llorente [Speaking after the Champions League game against Atletico] “Am I a little too isolated in the box? At times, as Tevez goes out to get the ball, but we did well in the first half and I remember a great Pogba assist that I was so close to turning in.” [Sky Sports Italia]

Gianluigi Buffon: “Juventus are lacking the same thing as all the teams that don’t win the Champions League, that is to say, Cristiano Ronaldo or [Lionel] Messi” [AS]

Gianluigi Buffon [When asked if he likes to be referred to as a legend]: “No, no, legends seem to have something that isn’t very human and I don’t like them. I am an athlete with soul, with heart, for the good and for the bad, that’s for others to judge. I consider myself a footballer who marked a part of the history of the sport in Italy, in Europe and in the world. But you turn into a legend when you die. I hope that’s in the very distant future!” [AS]

Pavel Nedved [On the Champions League]: “If we improve, then Juventus can become a dark horse in the competition that nobody will want to face.” [GdS]

Pavel Nedved: A response to Roma? We speak less & instead work more, the results are good.” [GdS]

Ciro ImmobileI am a granata and I have Toro in my heart. I hope that my Borussia Dortmund eliminates Juventus from the Champions League.” [Tuttosport]    


 

 Injuries

Claudio Marchisio had a ‘sudden, violent fever with a temperature of 39 degrees and had to return home.’ He’s fit and expected to start against Sampdoria tomorrow.

Kwadwo Asamoah has undergone surgery. Initial reports suggest he’ll be back in 3/4 months

Romulo has undergone surgery in Sao Paulo for a recurring groin injury and is expected to return in 3 months.

Luca Marrone suffered a ‘first-grade tear of the rectus femoris muscle in his left thigh’ and was out for 20 days at the start of November. He’s expected to return early in the new year.

Andrea Barzagli is still recovering from a achilles injury that has kept him out of action for the season to date. No date has been set for his return but Sky Sports Italia report the player will return early 2015.

Martin Caceres is recovering from a ‘first-second degree tear of the semitendinosus muscle in the defender’s left thigh.‘ Sky Sports Italia reported the defender will return before the Super Coppa against Napoli on 23rd December.

 


 …and finally

If you haven’t already seen it, take a moment to watch the latest Juventus video from Dan Colosimo – Well worth your time.