The “Old Lady” Charms Van Der Vaart

With the likes of Chelsea, Internazionale, Valencia, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona all allegedly interested in signing him, it now seems that Rafael Van Der Vaart is a Juventus Turin target as well – and he’s enjoying the attention.

The HSV captain says that he’s aware of La Vecchia Signora’s interest and sees a move to Italy feasible. “I already know that there’s something going on here,” he told the Voetbal International magazine.

“If they come up with a concrete offer then I will listen to it in any case. I will only leave Hamburg for a club of a higher stature. Juventus certainly meet this criteria and their interest doesn’t really surprise me.”

Special clause

Van Der Vaart’s move to Valencia last August fell through in the very last minute with HSV’s call, but things have changed since then. The spectacular playmaker, worth at least 20 million euros, is under contract up until June 30, 2010, but according to a special clause would be able to leave the club a year earlier for just one million!

The former Ajax star said on October 18 that he’ll play for Hamburg until the end of the current season and a few weeks later, on November 24, he didn’t rule out a possible contract extension. His current employers have reportedly offered him a deal until June 30, 2012, with a significant pay-rise. The 24-year-old’s current salary is estimated at two million.

But it seems like he’s already set his mind on leaving. “I think that HSV are prepared to open talks should another club lay the money on the table.” he said.

However, Van Der Vaart is poised in proving himself as a man of his word, excluding a January move. “I have never left a club in the middle of a season and therefore I won’t do it now either.”

www.goal.com - 12/12/2007 19:16

Read More

Juve Line Up Van Der Vaart Swap

Juventus are set to offer Hamburg cash plus Sergio Almiron for midfield schemer Rafael van der Vaart.

The Gazzetta dello Sport says that Almiron and team-mate Ruben Olivera have been put up for sale by the Bianconeri and will leave in January.

Uruguayan midfielder Olivera signed for Juve in 2003, but has never established himself, and Genoa are believed to have already made an approach for his services.

Almiron arrived in Turin only this summer from Empoli and was immediately labelled the “new Sebastian Veron”. However the 27-year-old has been a huge disappointment and is way down in the centre-midfield pecking order, behind the likes of Antonio Nocerino, Cristiano Zanetti and even Tiago Mendes.

Hamburg are believed to be interested in ending Almiron’s Juventus nightmare, and Dutch playmaker Rafael Van der Vaart could move the other way as part of the deal. The 24-year-old is eager to leave the Bundesliga, and Inter Milan and Valencia have also been heavily linked with the star.

The Nerazzurri in particular may make a move as they are currently in the midst of a midfield injury crisis, with Dejan Stankovic, Patrick Vieira, Luis Figo and Olivier Dacourt all sidelined.

www.goal.com - 12/12/2007 18:14

Read More

Mellberg Admits Juve Interest

Olog Mellberg’s free transfer move to Juventus at the end of the season is looking more and more likely after the defender admitted that the club were interested in him.

The defender’s contract with Aston Villa runs out this summer, which means he is permitted to talk to interested parties from January about a Bosman free transfer.

Juventus are in desperate need of some reinforcements in the centre-back position and have been linked with Mellberg for a number of weeks now.

“Juventus, I cannot deny it,” the Sweden international stated today.

These comments will come as a blow to Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill who is still retaining hope that his centre-back will stay at the club.

"I don't know if there is anything in the Juventus link and Olof will tell me in his own time if that is the case. Players are free to make decisions here,” O’Neill said on Monday.

"This is an important contract for Olof. He has been here seven years and, in terms of the commitment he has given since I've been here, I couldn't ask any more.”

Mellberg joined Villa from Racing Santander in July 2001 for £5m and has since made more than 200 appearances for the club.

www.goal.com - 12/12/2007 17:23

Read More

Lampard Juventus Deal To Be Done By Christmas

The deal to bring Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard to Juventus next season could be signed and sealed by Christmas, according to reports in Italy and England.

The Times newspaper says that Lampard will utilize a FIFA transfer clause to sign for the Bianconeri in the summer.

As the ex-West Ham man is over the age of 28, and has already seen out most of his current contract, Chelsea are powerless to let him leave for a cut-price sum.

Italian newspaper ‘Leggo’ has also reported on the matter, and there are more claims that Juventus sporting director Alessio Secco will fly to London before Christmas to complete the deal.

Secco has already held extensive talks with the Stamford Bridge hierarchy last month, and it is believed that there are only a few formalities to complete.

Lampard will agree to a cut in wages in order to hook up with Claudio Ranieri, the man who launched his career by signing him for Chelsea from West Ham in 2001.

The 29-year-old has since developed into of the most prolific goalscoring midfielders in Europe, and he has netted 20 plus goals for the past two seasons.

www.goal.com - 12/12/2007 13:27

Read More

Agent: Nedved May Play At Euro 2008

Pavel Nedved’s agent has admitted that his client may return for the Czech Republic in time for next summer’s European Championship.

The Juventus star retired from international for the second, and it seemed final, time shortly after last summer’s World Cup in Germany.

After playing in Serie B with the Bianconeri last year, and almost giving the game up altogether this summer, very few believed that Nedved would play for his country again.

However, despite recently turning 35, the midfielder has shown he has still got what it takes at the very highest level, and he has been in superb form in recent weeks, scoring a brilliant winner at the weekend against Atalanta.

Following this game defender Nicola Legrottaglie made the startling revelation that Nedved would return for the Czech Republic.

“You will see - Nedved, like me, will return to his national team and play in the European Championships next June,” he said.

Nedved’s agent Zdenek Nehoda seems to have now supported Legrottaglie’s declaration by also hinting of a return.

“I am able to say that everything is possible,” said Nehoda.

Fellow Czech and Juventus star Zdenek Grygera says that everyone hopes that Nedved will play at Euro 2008.

“We all hope in the Czech Republic that Pavel will return,” said the former Ajax man.

“We want to convince him to come, however this is Pavel’s decision and we cannot force him.”

www.goal.com - 12/12/2007 12:51

Read More

Juve Offer Palladino For Quagliarella?

Juventus are set to offer Raffaele Palladino for Udinese sensation Fabio Quagliarella, according to Italian newspaper ‘Leggo’.

Quagliarella burst onto the Serie A scene last season with Sampdoria scoring 13 goals, most of them spectacular.

This led to a call-up to the Italian national team, and on his first start for the Azzurri he scored two brilliant goals in the 2-0 Euro 2008 qualifying victory over Lithuania.

In the summer he moved to Udinese, after the club won a blind auction with Samp to obtain full-ownership of the player. After a slow start with the Zebrette, he has recently found his feet once again, and is in scintillating form having scored five times in his last four matches. This has alerted Juventus boss Claudio Ranieri, who is keen to add the Naples-born star to his forward line.

The Tinkerman is set to offer cash plus the services of another Neapolitan, Raffaele Palladino. At just 23, Palladino is rated as one of the most promising young prospects in Italy, and he recently made his national team debut in the Euro 2008 qualifier with the Faroe Islands last month.

However Ranieri is not convinced by his ability to play up-front and has utilised him mainly on the wing this season. For this reason he is prepared to let him go, providing they can sign Quagliarella in exchange.

www.goal.com - 12/12/2007 11:48

Read More

Chiellini: “In Rome To Win”

With Christmas getting nearer, Giorgio Chiellini already knows what present to ask for: a great 2007 finale for his Juventus. Before the winter break starts, the Bianconeri want to confirm the good things done in the first half of the season.

The defender spoke about all this at today's press conference, previewing the next two games, especially the one on Saturday night, against Lazio in Rome. “We have Lazio and Siena before Christmas and we want to win both games, even though we know it won't be easy. We've done well up until now and we want to consolidate our position in the League. We've got a long way to go in the tournament and we have to try and remain close, knowing full well that we have a team like Inter Milan in front of us, who have showed they're clearly head and shoulders above the rest, especially in the last few matches. In any case we're not giving up”.

The first match is in the capital against Lazio, who have just been eliminated from the Champions League. “I don't think Lazio will be demoralized or angry – Chiellini continued -, they did what they could against Real Madrid and I think the players themselves knew that winning there was going to be almost impossible. They'll be fired up and immediately wanting to fight to get to more ambitious positions in the League than the one they currently occupy. We have to fear Rocchi and Pandev most of all, as they've scored almost all Lazio’s goals, we'll have to be good to contain them”.

This is the last away game of the year: the last chance to get an away victory, after going so close recently. Chiellini confirms everybody's desire to win away from Turin again: “Apart from the derby which doesn't count, we've only won at Cagliari and we were even a bit lucky that day. We need to improve in that respect. We don't always seem to fully express our character and personality away from home, although it's true that our opponents are more motivated in front of their own crowd. That's why we're going to Rome with the intention of winning”.

Last of all, a comment on the defence: Juventus are getting better and better at the back and Chiellini and Legrottaglie in particular are truly shining - two players that ran the risk of leaving in the summer. Nicola was linked to a move to Turkey, and Giorgio also wasn't sure about his future for a short while, but quickly - and luckily! - he overcame those doubts. “I'm really happy I stayed, leaving would have been a big mistake. After what happened in July, I understood that sometimes you need to count to ten before speaking and I did wrong back then. Mistakes are useful learning tools”.

www.juventus.com - 12 December 2007

Read More

Eva Boumsong Born, Congratulations Jean Alain

A pink ribbon at Juventus: Jean Alain has become father for the third time. His partner Juliette gave birth to a little girl, who has been named Eva. The couple already had two children: Camron and Carlie.

Congratulations to all the Boumsong family from all of us here at Juventus.

www.juventus.com - 12 December 2007

Read More

Molinaro Operation Successful

Cristian Molinaro underwent surgery this afternoon at the Fornaca clinic in Turin, on his right hand, injured during last Sunday's game against Atalanta. A compression screw was applied to the defender’s hand, reducing the fracture to his third metacarpus.

The operation, carried out in topical anaesthesia, was a total success. A comfortable tutor was applied to Cristian's hand and the player will be back at home tonight.

He'll rest on Wednesday, but Thursday he's expected to be back in training and his condition will be appraised then, to see if he can be part of the squad for Saturday's away game in Rome against Lazio.

www.juventus.com - 11 December 2007

Read More

Camoranesi Back In January

This morning Camoranesi underwent an NMR scan, which confirmed yesterday's diagnosis by Juventus' medical staff. The player has suffered a strain to the third superior muscle in his right thigh and will have to take a period of rest.

After the Christmas break his condition will be checked again via a new NMR scan. Mauro should be able to train with the squad again from mid or late January.

www.juventus.com - 12 December 2007

Read More