Juve legends to play charity match

A host of retired Juventus footballers will return to the Stadio Olimpico for a charity match against city rivals Torino on March 23.

The two Turin sides have agreed to unite in order to raise funds towards research into the motor neurone disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Club greats like striker Gianluca Vialli, goalkeeper Stefano Tacconi and Czech winger Pavel Nedved have signed on to appear in the ‘Derby SLAncio di Vita’.

ALS sufferer Michele Riva is the inspiration behind the Turin derby, and Juve president Andrea Agnelli said the club is honoured to be associated with such a great cause.

“I would like to thank Michele a lot, he certainly is the soul and heart of this event and it is thanks to him if we will play on March 23,” Agnelli said.

“Both Torino’s president and I are sorry we cannot play a real match as we would really have liked.”

“Sport clubs should be there in order to raise the attention on different subjects. March 23 will be a sort of celebration.”

“I’d like to thank already all people who will give at least one euro. They’ll be the real winner of this competition and will allow the project to be finalised.”

The derby is being run in collaboration with an ALS foundation set up by Vialli and former Juve and Napoli midfielder Massimo Mauro, and Agnelli is proud of the club connection.

“Massimo has contacted us from the very beginning,” he said.

“Their organization is excellent and this has been proved by facts, events managed by them and by the projects they manage and the funds they have raised up to now.”

“This foundation is of excellent quality and we’re proud to collaborate.”

“We have an important role as football club. Football, and in general sport, can operate to bring positive messages in the scientific research and in solidarity in general.”