Jean-Claude Blanc has criticised

Blanc plans frugal future
Friday 18 April, 2008

Juventus director Jean-Claude Blanc has criticised the spendthrift transfer policies of Milan and Inter and has a different plan for the Bianconeri.

The Old Lady are expected to invest heavily in reinforcements this summer, with Palermo hitman Amauri already close to agreeing a switch to Turin.

However, Blanc is determined that the Cadetti champions won’t jeopardise the long-term future of the club by spending recklessly.

“The fans understand that 100km away from Turin there are two very strong and rich clubs,” he said.

“Inter’s Massimo Moratti has lost millions over the last five or six years and Silvio Berlusconi doesn’t have cash flow problems at Milan – if he wants a player, he buys him.

“But we are different. The Juve fans are proud to have a club that don’t operate that way.

“In 20 years’ time when there isn’t a Moratti or a Berlusconi, what will happen to Inter and Milan?

“It’s the same thing with Roman Abramovich at Chelsea. That’s why our models are Manchester United, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Barcelona.”

After a year of exile in Serie B, Juve are back amongst the elite and are set to secure Champions League football for next term.

“However negative the aftermath of Calciopoli was, a year in Serie B was useful,’ Blanc insisted.

“It helped us to see who we could rely on and who we couldn’t as a club and as a team.

“I am not amazed that we are headed for third place because I was immediately aiming for Champions League qualification and therefore a top-four finish.

“The real challenge was to try and finish closer to first than fourth.

“When I said that it would take five years to rebuild this squad I meant that it would take five years to rebuild to the level of 2006, and that will happen piece by piece.

“But as far as winning again, the hope is that will happen before.

“To do so we need a mixture of champions and youth. Last Friday I met all our youth Coaches and reminded them that our priorities don’t change, we want to create a Ronaldinho rather than buying one.”

*channel4