Marotta reveals Juventus’ transfer plans
Juventus general manager Giuseppe Marotta has revealed the club’s transfer plans for next summer.
Beppe Marotta says that coach Gigi Del Neri currently enjoys support from the club management.
“We have a two-year deal with the coach. As for application and professionalism, he is considered by all of us in positive terms. We need to restore a team spirit to Juventus and he has done that very well,” Marotta told Il Corriere dello Sport.
“We are starting from the idea that Del Neri is our coach. Then it’s right to consider different scenarios.”
The general manager revealed that the Bianconeri were likely to make loan deals of Fabio Quagliarella and Alberto Aquilani permanent.
“The former will be signed. The second 80 per cent. We’ll go to talk with Liverpool about the €16m. The relationship is good. We have started to discuss it.”
He also hinted about Juventus’ next moves in the transfer window.
“It’s no mystery that we are aiming for Michel Bastos. There is the problem of one non-EU spot per team in Serie A.”
Asked about the possibility of signing Milan playmaker Pirlo, Marotta replied:
“Well, Pirlo is in my thoughts… We’ll see.”
Lampard to play on for another ten years
Chelsea playmaker Frank Lampard says he doesn’t plan to retire for another ten years despite being 32 at the moment.
While a number of football pundits believe the England international is well past his prime, Lampard insists he doesn’t plan to retire any time soon.
“I’d like to carry on as long as I can play at the level I want to be playing at and the club want me to play,” Lampard told club’s official website.
“Age 32 is not the 32 it was 10 or 15 years ago if you look after yourself and have the right manager to help you through certain times.
“There are players like Ryan Giggs, Paolo Maldini and Paul Scholes who have gone on to play some of their best football in their later 30s and I would love to be able to do that.”
The England international has been struggling for form throughout the season, prompting speculations that he could leave the club at the end of the season, but that looks highly unlikely following his latest statement.
The fact is that Lampard is no longer playing his best football and if Chelsea plan to return to the biggest stage, they might just have to get rid of the England international.
One thing’s for sure, the 32-year-old will not be ending his career in Chelsea shirt, especially if his poor run of form continues.
Wright-Phillips eager to stay at City
Manchester City midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips says he is ready to stay at the club and help City win some silverware in the future.
The diminutive winger was becoming unsettled at Eastlands and was expected to leave the club in search for first team football, but it appears he has now changed his opinion.
“I want to fulfill a lifelong dream and help win a trophy for our fans,” Wright-Phillips told the club’s official website.
I wouldn’t just want to beat United and then lose in the final – we need to get to the final and win it.
“It feels like I am part of the furniture here. I would love to retire a City player and I have my fingers crossed it is something that can still happen.
“When I did leave in 2005, I broke down crying on the way to sign for Chelsea, but back then, we needed the money my sale brought in.
“The fans didn’t even turn their back on me then. They always give me a brilliant reception and I can’t explain how good that feels.”
The former England international has seen his opportunities at Eastlands very limited after the arrival of David Silva, James Milner and Mario Balotelli, and with his status unlikely to change as long as Roberto Mancini is in charge, his decision to remain at the club might prove to be a wrong one after all.
For more news about football transfers and rumours, visit our Transfer News section. To view all football transfers for 2010/11 season, visit our Soccer Transfers section.
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