Team Talk : Cobolli Gigli's Juve ambition

Cobolli Gigli's Juve ambition
Saturday 5 January, 2008

Juventus President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli believes Juventus can target second place this season and buy two big name stars for the Champions League.

“In the summer I had said our aim was to finish in the top four, but with a bit more ambition I’d say we can now go for second place,” the patron told the ‘Gazzetta dello Sport.’

“Inter have an eight-point advantage over us and with regret I must admit they are playing well, too. We are almost at the halfway stage and considering our position I can say we’re looking at a top two placement.”

The Bianconeri were expected to struggle after their Calciopoli-imposed year in Serie B, but instead are making plans for an immediate assault on Europe’s top prize.

“Claudio Ranieri is satisfied with the current squad and we will add a few more elements to face the Champions League.

“There are set to be returns of players on loan, like Claudio Marchisio, Sebastian Giovinco and Paolo De Ceglie, plus we will sign two star names – real world class players – in attack and central defence.”

It is rumoured the forward on their wish list is Palermo’s Brazilian hitman Amauri, but German newspapers suggest the main target does not fit either role.

This week it was reported that Rafael Van Der Vaart has agreed an £11m deal to join Juve in the summer from Hamburg.

“We have not made an offer for Amauri, although it is true our observers are looking at him. Van Der Vaart is among many players we like, but for the moment we are basing our policy on free transfers, just as we did with Hasan Salihamidzic. We promised our shareholders a self-sustainable club.”

Some of their other signings have not been so successful, but Cobolli Gigli trusts they have time to change that view.

“This year we will have a midfielder with great vision who can launch out strikers – his name is Tiago Mendes. In my mind he is the man of 2008 and it will be Juve’s year.”

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