Juve enjoy Ibra exit

Juventus general manager Jean-Claude Blanc believes Serie A will be “more entertaining” with Samuel Eto’o instead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Inter and Barcelona have agreed to exchange strikers plus £40m and the loan of Aleksandr Hleb, though they must first work out personal terms.

Many say this will weaken the reigning Italian champions and give Juve a far better chance of winning the Scudetto.

“I wouldn’t say that,” warned Bianconeri chief Blanc. “If Eto’o arrived to replace the Swede, then it wouldn’t be that bad for them, would it?

“Let us just say that without Ibra the League could be more entertaining.”

Last season Juventus finished second to Inter and have reinforced significantly over the summer with Diego, Felipe Melo and Fabio Cannavaro.

As Milan have sold Kaka and Inter get set to release Ibrahimovic, does this make the Turin giants favourites?

“We are focused only on our own squad and getting the best results,” added director of sport Alessio Secco.

“Naturally, an Inter without Ibrahimovic would be a step in the right direction for us.”

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A Draw “Chez Platini” (Nancey - Juventus 1-1)

The centenary of the club of Le Roi’s birthplace saw the two former teams of the UEFA president sharing the spoils in what was a rather entertaining match featuring some good bits of action by the bianconeri notwithstanding the heavy workload of the past few days.

The first half started off with Juventus on the attack as a show of the hard athletic work undergone by the players in the past few days beginning to yield its results. On the 3rd minute an Immobile cross reaches Amauri but the shot is deviated into corner. One minute later a great personal initiative by Del Piero sees the ball going inches wide.

On the 8th minute a great cross by Immobile goes past the keeper and reaches Amauri who puts the ball into the back of the net for the opener (1-0). Nancy begin to emerge and on the 12th minute it is Manninger who performed a great save.

The 22nd minute sees a good shot from the outside the area by Tiago going wide. Ten minutes later it is once again the Austrian keeper who is once again forced to perform a good save.

On the 34th minute a beautiful exchange between Del Piero and Amauri sees a beautiful conclusion by the Brazilian go slightly wide. Three minutes later a great bit of action by Immobile sees the French keeper forced to resort to a corner.

The bianconeri seem to relax towards the end of the half and are made to pay for this as on the 45th minute Ouaddou equalizes with Manninger rather unlucky to save a first time with the ball falling beyond the goal line on the rebound.

As is typical of summer friendly matches the second half is characterised by a number of substitutions with the bianconeri coming on to the field for the start of the second half with Bamba instead of Zebina and Chimenti instead of Manninger.

On the 4th minute it is Amauri who goes close to scoring a second with the ball going high over the bar. Six minutes later Chimenti performs a great save following a dangerous Nancy attempt.

The 13th minute sees Poulsen coming off for Molinaro and three minutes later it is Marrone who comes on for Zanetti. On the 21st minute Del Piero sees a cross being deviated into a corner with the ball from the flag being cleared by the French defence.

More substitutions are made on the 23rd minute with Daud and Esposito coming on for Salihamidzic and Immobile respectively. On the 25th minute Tiago goes close to scoring but the ball hits the post after a good shot. Five minutes later Nancy go close to scoring their second but Chimenti denies them with a good low save.

The match tended to slow down a bit in the middle of the second half but this is expected considering the heavy workload the players have endured in the past few days.

On the 38th minute it is once again Amauri who after receiving from Tiago showed some splendid play with his final low cross not finding anybody to push it in. An immediate reaction by Nancy, seconds later saw the Juve defence clearing with difficulty.

The 42nd minute saw a great Del Piero attempt going slightly high over the bar. With the ball out it was Tiago (who had a good match) to make way for youngster Pirrotta.

The 43rd minute saw a good exchange between Amauri and Del Piero with the captain’s shot being saved by the French keeper, the last real bit of action before the final whistle.

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A Sunday Spent Between Trentino And France

Pinzolo and Trentino, Joeuf and France: so far and yet, for once, never so close. This is thanks to Juventus and its summer programme, which today the 19th of July (Zebina’s 31st birthday) will be living its most intense and perhaps the most fascinating day.

The internationals are in Pinzolo where they are continuing their preparatory work. Buffon, Cannavaro, Chiellini, De Ceglie, Marchisio, Camoranesi, Sissoko, Almiron, Diego, Iaquinta, Trezeguet, Kirev and De Paola: 13 worked in the morning at the Centro Sportivo Pineta which was once again was invaded.

The new arrivals underwent athletic tests in order to catch up with the others. Diego and De Ceglie trained on the field. Trezeguet trained in the gym while Sissoko underwent physiotherapy.

The rest of the group landed in the Nancy airport at 12:00hrs, before arriving in Joeuf (the birthplace of Michel Platini), where at 18:00hrs they will be playing the friendly against Nancy, the second seasonal friendly for Ciro Ferrara’s team.

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Elkann sees Juve of the future

Patron John Elkann believes extending Alessandro Del Piero’s contract is part of “Juventus building for the future.”

On Friday the captain added one year to his deal, keeping him with the Bianconeri until June 30 2011.

“Del Piero’s renewal is of great importance, and another step forward in Juventus building for the future,” said club owner Elkann.

“Juve have a lot of trust in tomorrow, as proved by signing a young Coach like Ciro Ferrara. I was glad to see a tough training regime and also how quickly the youth team players are settling in.

“Ferrara and his staff are taking big steps forward to be ready for the start of the season. I expect an entertaining team and only the results will tell us if the balance of power with our rivals has changed.”

The Turin giants have drafted in Diego from Werder Bremen, Felipe Melo from Fiorentina and Fabio Cannavaro as a free agent from Real Madrid.

“We believe [UEFA President Michel] Platini is right, as in football investment must be sustainable and we did what we could,” added the heir to the Agnelli empire.

“One must try to use the same criteria to guarantee consistency to both clubs and fans. We are also working on something special for players and supporters in the form of a new stadium.”

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Sold Out Under The Rain

Bad weather is leaving its mark in the last few hours in Pinzolo and after the strong storms yesterday, even this morning Val Rendena woke up with cloudy skies. The rain, however, did not stop the bianconeri from working hard.

Even today the team was busy with repeats on distances of 600 and 300 metres for those players who took part in the training since the beginning of the camp and of 1,200 metres for those who joined the group in the last few days.

Amongst the latter was Paolo De Ceglie who arrived in Pinzolo last evening and this morning worked in the gym together with Momo Sissoko, Alessandro Del Piero and Diego. The Brazilian then worked on the field with professor Gaudino to the joy of the public present.

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Del Piero: "Happy And Proud"

It is a day of celebrations for th Juventus supporters present at the summer camp in Pinzolo and for those who heard the new on the media. Alessandro Del Piero extended his contract with the club up to 2011. The contract was due to expire in 2010. The negotiations were very short and the signature came during the camp in Pinzolo which saw the arrival of John Elkann and Jean-Claude Blanc in the morning to join Alessio Secco who is following the team closely.

"The negotiations were fast even due to the fact that we all had the same intention. I thank the club for the faith shown in me and John Elkann who I thanked this winter for having given me a historical ball as a sign of esteem and who today I thank again for his presence here".

It was a Del Piero sporting a black-eye (suffered during training) but happy: "I am proud to have been at Juventus for all these years and I still want to write important pages in the history of the bianconeri. As I said two years ago, there exist all the possibilities to play for another two seasons at top level. Until when will I go on playing? Until I can guarantee the qualities which made me who I am in all aspects".

Present in the first row were all his staff, captained by his brother Stefano, as well as many local authorities and the president of Trentino S.p.A and Sport and Agriculture councillor Tiziano Mellarini. It is really a great day. Del Piero celebrated speaking of the new Juventus taking shape and of a group which is living these days with great enthusiasm:

"The enthusiasm captured all. I was told that there has never been such a great attendance by the supporters to watch the team training. When we are enthusiastic and happy: two important ingredients to prepare the foundations for that which can become our home. We are highly motivated and will seek to achieve all our objectives".

Del Piero has no doubts with regards to Juventus’ potential: "Even last year we showed that in a single match we can beat anyone meaning that we have a group of great quality. The next step is winning not only in a single match but also in a competition: championship, Champions League and Coppa Italia".

Juventus mad important investments, strengthening an already competitive team. "I am happy about this because the financial effort by the club, who was on this transfer market only second to Real Madrid (that is beyond the market!), means that all have the same will of the team which is built on a lot of enthusiasm and the will to win".

Now all must get to work "and find the mechanisms with the great players that have been signed". Amongst these is Fabio Cannavaro. "It is up to him to win back the faith of the fans – declared Del Piero – but I don’t think he will have any problems because he is a great champion and because he has all our support".

To conclude a thought dedicated to the national team: "The World Cup is one of my objectives. It would be great to take part as it would also mean that I had a great season".

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Blanc: "Alex’s Contract Extension Is Another Great Signing"

"We are all very satisfied because we decided to extend a long marriage. It was right to do so now while preparing for the next season so as to allow Alessandro to work with his mind at rest and give a clear sign to all Juventus fans".

This is the way by which Jean-Claude Blanc commented Alessandro Del Piero’s signing of a new contract up to 2011 on Juventus Channel. A new transfer market signing for Juventus:

"Yes, we can define it as such. The media are always speaking of new players but it is as important to be able to count on champions of the calibre of Del Piero and Buffon. We are happy to have made this signing in Trentino where even in the past many positive signs were given".

Juventus’ presence in Trentino is leading to enthusiasm of such proportions that was never witnessed in the past:

"Three years ago we were welcomed but now we are all proud of being Juventus supporters, of this team and of the work done in these last 36 months. Now we hope to see the results while maintaining our feet on the ground and judging after the end of the three competitions".

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John Elkann: "Juventus Believes In The Future"

It was a Friday the 17th with John Elkann as potagonsit in Pinzolo. The Fiat vice-president wanted to personally say hello to Ciro Ferrara and the team and be present at an important moment in the career of Alessandro Del Piero who extended his contract until 2011.

The day in Trentino began very early. Having departed from Turin aboard a helicopter together with Jean-Claude Blanc, the Engineer visited the team’s hotel and later the Centro Sportivo Pineta to watch the morning training session.

After lunch, he joined all the Juventus contingent at the fire fighters barracks to be present in the first row during the Del Piero press conference. Before leaving Trentino and returning to Turin, John Elkann spoke to the journalists.

"Del Piero’s renewal is of great importance because it is another step in the construction of the future. Juventus believes firmly in the future and this is shown in the signing of a young coach like Ciro Ferrara".

The new Juventus for 2009/10 is making its first steps and the engineer could witness this for the first time with a complete squad (or nearly) after the arrival of the internationals. They were two hours of intense work which helped him understand if things in Val Rendena were being taken seriously:

"It was a positive day. I noticed a great atmosphere and serious work with hard and demanding training. I am happy to have seen so many Primavera players included. Ferrara and his staff are making progress in order to be ready for the season. My expectations? A team that entertains. Whether the equilibrium with regards to the other teams has changed will be decided on the field".

Surely one can say that the club owners continue to believe in the Juve project. This is shown in the signings of Diego and Felipe Melo but also in the support with regards to the new stadium project which are all important and well studied investments.

"We believe Platini is right. In football investments must be sustainable and we did all we could. We must seek to use the same criteria to guarantee a certain consistency for the club and the supporters. With regards to the stadium, we worked to be able to give something special to the players and the fans".

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