Jean-Claude Blanc

20 June 2008
Jean-Claude Blanc speaks across the board

Exactly two weeks before the new season kicks off, the new 2008/09 Juventus continues to take shape. In a period where even the European championships risk being obscured by all the summer transfer rumours, it was up to Jean-Claude Blanc to recap the situation. The Managing Director gave a long interview with Sky Sport, showed during the “Euro Calciomercato” show.

He spoke about a variety of subjects, from the transfer market to the European Championships, but mostly about Juventus. Blanc will be celebrating two years at the club on the 29th of June.

Ready for Pinzolo. «Our aim is to complete all transfers before the summer camp starts; by July 4th we hope to have a complete squad».

Transfer market in full swing. «After signing Amauri, renewing Nedved's contract, getting back three great young players such as Marchisio, Giovinco and De Ceglie and purchasing Mellberg already in January, our priority now is finding a quality midfielder. We're also looking for reserve goalkeepers, obviously the first team one's role is covered…».

Everything passes from the middle. «We're looking for a midfielder of great quality. There aren't many around, and some of them aren't free to move. So we need to speak to the clubs first and then the players. We're in talks with a few; in the end we'll make the best choice under a football point of view but also in terms of money. Aquilani, Stankovic or Xabi Alonso? We're negotiating with more than three».

Facts first. «As is our wont, we only talk when an agreement has been reached; to speak before that only makes the fans dream and increases player prices».

Trezeguet not going anywhere. «Some agents have been busy trying to create enthusiasm for the player in Spain and Italy. But as it stands now, Juventus are not in talks with Barcelona. We've already said that David cannot be sold, even more so if there aren't any talks going on. He's an important player, not just for us but for his National team. We saw how difficult it is to score without him».

Come on Italy. «Del Piero and Buffon deserve to be Italy's captains, alongside former Juve player Cannavaro. They deserve it after the last two terrible but beautiful years they lived at the Club. These European Championships are like a reward for all they've done, and the same goes for Chiellini and Camoranesi. They deserve to lift this trophy. When we watch them win these games, for us it's like Juve winning too».

Towards the second anniversary. «What's the thing that I liked the most in these two years? Juve's ability to make a lot of people happy with a win, with an attitude, a certain style, a statement by captain Del Piero or Gigi Buffon. I think this ability to make people happy so quickly, only in football and at a club like Juventus can this sort of thing happen».

Towards the Juventus of the future. «We've built a modern and professional club, working extensively on our youth sector. What will it be like in a year's time? Juve will have already started a new winning cycle, two years before moving to the new stadium, a very strong signal that Juve are contenders and they'll be in the future too, as we've put down some solid foundations for the future. Juventus' house has very solid walls and we'll keep building on top of that. We're well organized and we're working very well».