Sebastian Giovinco Not Scared Of Competition At Juventus - Agent

Juventus have brought in Brazilian ace Diego this summer and the arrival of the attacking midfielder is likely to push Sebastian Giovinco further down the pecking order, but despite this, the youngster is still confident of securing a regular starting berth next season.

There have been suggestions that Udinese are trying to get Giovinco involved in a part-exchange for Gaetano D’Agostino, whose move to the Old Lady is expected to be finalised shortly.

But the diminutive striker insists he wants to prove his worth in Turin and is confident he will leave his mark next season.

“You are always asking me the same things and I have no wish to answer you anymore. You all know full well my opinion,” Giovinco roared on Radio Rai.

His agent, Claudio Pasqualin, has reiterated that Juve have no intention of using the Italy Under-21 star as bait to land D’Agostino and claims his client is fired up for the new campaign.

“He has told me that the next one will be ‘his’ season,” the representative explained to Sky Italia.

“He said that he possesses the genes to be a regular in the Juve team and is confident that, if things go according to plan, he will be a regular in the end.”

Giovinco mustered only 14 starting appearances in all competitions last season, netting two goals in Serie A and one in the Coppa Italia.

Vince Masiello, Goal.com

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Contract expiring: Del Piero will not wait

In a year Alessandro Del Piero’s contract expires, when the player is 35 years old, a market value of 12 million, with a salary of 3.7 plus bonuses. There is time to think, yes, but not much. If Juve still believe in the athletic freshness of the captain they will have to sit at the table at the end of the football market, after may be interpreted as a lack of confidence. Other doors could open, offers which to date have been rejected by Del Piero, who like Maldini is the symbol of his club.

"It is a problem that sooner or later we must face, but there is time to think about it" said sporting director Alessio Secco. For a long time the club has assumed that Del Piero, in his loyalty, accepts everything in silence. Who knows Alex well, confirms that the captain, like Pavel, will not knock at the door if not addressed, and will not wait for June 30 2010 to decide his professional future, strong after the season just ended.

Competition with the arrival of Diego, the desire to be at the World Cup 2010 in South Africa and the desire to prolong his career are important incentives to continue to work hard on the field and with the personal coach who in the last two seasons made him shine: 21 goals in the season just ended, 24 in 2007-08. More reason to look around even if today it seems a remote hypothesis, the frozen offers received from China, U.S. and from England to close his career away from home. In China, Del Piero is one of the three most popular footballers in the world with more appeal among the fans and sponsors. It would be curious to see him on a pitch in the Chinese Super League, sponsored for the next three years by Pirelli. Even if it is the Spanish Liga which attracts him as a final career destination.

calciomercato.com

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D’Agostino set for Juve

Italy midfielder Gaetano D’Agostino will be joining Juventus from Udinese this summer, the player’s agent assures.

Interviewed by Radio Radio, Franco Zavaglia sounded optimistic regarding talks between the two clubs.

“The negotiations are taking quite a long time but I believe the deal will go through,” noted Zavaglia.

“My client deserves it. Udinese prefer to give him the opportunity to join Juventus also because it will be a prestigious deal.

“There have been several Italian sides after him including Genoa, Napoli and Inter as well as a Spanish outfit, Atletico Madrid,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, the Old Lady is looking to offload Tiago Mendes to make space for their potential new signing.

The Portuguese would be happy to return to his former club Lyon and has already explained he doesn’t suit Serie A football.

In order to sign Tiago Lyon will have to sell Jeremy Toulalan, who has been linked to Fiorentina.

channel4.com

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Robert Acquafresca’s Agent Plays Down Juventus Link

Robert Acquafresca could start the season with Juventus is the Old Lady gave him a call, but his agent has been a little coy over the rumours.

The striker is expected to finalise his move from Inter to Genoa this week as part of the deal that will see South American duo Thiago Motta and Diego Milito join the Serie A champions.

But Acquafresca is unlikely to be first-choice at the Marassi following the arrivals of Sergio Floccari and Hernan Crespo, and press reports in the peninsula suggested yesterday that Juve have their set sights on the 21-year-old.

“As far as I know, it is only paper talk,” Acquafresca’s agent, Paolo Fabbri, admitted to Calciomercato.it.

“Should their directors call, we could talk. Of course, if that happened, I would gladly listen to their offer. But there is nothing at the moment.”

Acquafresca is currently in Sweden with the Azzurrini for the Under-21 European Championships and Fabbri is set to travel there to sort out his client’s future once and for all.

“The situation is the same as last week and I have not even talked to the player since,” said the agent.

“I will fly in to Sweden on Wednesday and his transfer from Inter to Genoa should be formalised between Thursday and Friday.

“Are other clubs interested in him? Atalanta and Parma are well-placed, but anything can happen.”

Vince Masiello, Goal.com

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Huntelaar: No offers from Italy

Real Madrid starlet Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, reportedly linked with a move to Serie A, is yet to receive an offer from an Italian club.

According to the player’s agent, Arnoldus Oosterver, the former Ajax bomber is happy in Madrid and all the rumours regarding his future elsewhere are false.

“My client is more than happy to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu,” underlined Oosterver.

“The fact that Real signed Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t affect him as he is a central striker and they don’t play in that position.”

Italian reports suggested in the past that both Juventus and Roma would have liked to sign the 25-year-old.

“None of them contacted me. These are just transfer market rumours nothing serious,” added the agent.

“We don’t plan to meet up with Real either. There is nothing to talk about. Klaas is enjoying his holidays now and will be returning to Spain in a couple of weeks ready to start a new season at the Bernabeu.”

channel4.com

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Juventus Midfielder Christian Poulsen On Hamburger SV Radar - Report

According to a report in Tuttosport, German side Hamburger SV are considering making a move for Juventus' holding midfielder Christian Poulsen.

The Danish international joined the Old Lady from Sevilla last summer, but failed to make an impact for the Bianconeri. Poulsen has made only 23 league appearances this term.

HSV are in the market for a new holding midfielder ever since Nigel de Jong left the club for Manchester City in January and the report suggests that the Germans have made Poulsen their primary transfer target.

The 29-year-old played in the Bundesliga before from 2002-
06 and is reportedly keen to return to the German league this transfer window.

Earlier reports suggested that Juventus are interested in HSV's full back Marcell Jansen and a player exchange deal could be on the cards. However, Hamburg might be reluctant to let go of the German international as he's one of their key men.

Stefan Coerts, Goal.com

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Confederations Cup: The Day Of Italy's Debut

The first encounter happened on the 27th of May 1934. The match was played in Rome and was valid for the final 16 of the world cup, the first won by Vittorio Pozzo’s Italy. The difference between the two teams was manifested in the final score: a round 7-1 in favour of the hosts. The national team was made up mostly of Juventus players with 6 players: goalkeeper Combi, right fullback Rosetta, central halfback Monti, midfielder Bertolini, playmaker Ferrari (who score the goal that made the result 4-1) and left wing Orsi who scored twice.

Two years later, the two teams met in the elimination phase for the Olympics, another triumph for coach Vittorio Pozzo. This time the victory was just by 1-0. The two bianconeri who played in Berlin were fullbacks Foni and Rava. There were no Juventus players in the 9-0 victory in the 1948 Olympics while in the next edition in Finland, there was fullback Corradi and the result was not that different: 8-0.

On the 30th May 1984 came the first draw in a friendly. The match was played at the Giants Stadium in New York and ended 0-0. Enzo Bearzot took advantage of the American tournament (there was also a match in Canada) to try out a few new players. The captain was Marco Tardelli, the only bianconero apart from Gaetano Scirea.

Six years later the world cup atmosphere is back, Italy won by 1-0 against the USA in the second match of the group phase played at the Rome Olimpico. The match was decided by a Giannini goal with only a Juventus player-to-be (Gianluca Vialli) and Totò Schillaci (who came on on the 50th minute) on the field. The latter was destined to splendid magical nights in Italia ’90.

On the 6th of June 1992 there was another friendly in the USA. In Chicago the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Roberto Baggio’s goal after 2 minutes was not enough for Sacchi’s side to win the match. Galia and Casiraghi were the other Juventus players to form part of the azzurri formation.

The last victory against the USA dates back to the 13th February 2002. In Catania it was a goal by Alessandro Del Piero who came on for Parma striker Di Vaio that decided the match. Besides Pinturicchio, the other bianconeri were Mark Iuliano and Gianluca Zambrotta.

Finally, the last encounter was during the 2006 world cup. It was the second match after the victory against Ghana and ended in a 1-1 draw with Buffon conceding an own goal by Zaccardo, the only goal scored in action during the competition. Cannavaro, Zambrotta and Del Piero were the Juventus players fielded by Marcello Lippi on that occasion.

Juventus.com

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