Juventus have reached the Champions League final after beating Monaco 2-1 , 4-1 on aggregate in Turin today. After their 2-0 win in last week’s first leg, goals from Mario Mandzukic and Dani Alves sent the Italian club to its 9th European Cup final. They conceded a goal for the first time in this season’s knockout stages.
According to reports, the club will collect a minimum of 126m euros in Champions League revenues. Juventus haven’t lost at home since August 2015 and will now face either Real Madrid or Atletico in the final on 3 June in Cardiff, their 2nd Champions League final in 3 years. They have joined AC Milan as the two sides to have reached the most Champions League finals (6) since 1992.
Photos: Juventus unveil new logo
Italian giants, Juventus have unveiled a new logo. Featuring a black and white letter J in the shape of a shield, the new logo which was unveiled yesterday in Milan, is a symbol of the Juventus way of living.
“We spent a year trying to find out what the new markets want, but also to show a sense of belonging and looking to the future,” Club president, Andrea Agnelli revealed.
The evolution of Juventus‘ badge following the unveiling of their new logo
Real Madrid officially activate buy-back clause for Alvaro Morata
Juventus has confirmed that Alvaro Morata will rejoin Real Madrid for €30m The Spain international who scored in both legs of the 2014/15 Champions League SF for Juventus, as well as the final netted 27 goals in 93 appearances for the Old Lady after leaving Madrid for Turin in 2014.
A statement on Juventus’ official website read: “All associated with Juventus Football Club would like to wish Alvaro the very best of luck wherever his future may take him and thank him for two truly excellent years of service to the team.”
The Arsenal target has scored two goals in the ongoing Euro 2016 tournament.
Campioni: Juventus Win 5th Serie A Title
giants, Juventus have been crowned kings of Serie A again for the fifth consecutive season. They won the Scudetto after their closest rivals, Napoli lost to Romania yesterday.
“My first and this season’s have been the greatest of all my Scudetto victories. This season has been crazy and unbelievable. This victory showed our strength both in terms of technique and character.” Elated Juve captain, Gianluigi Buffon said.
Juventus confirm Cuadrado's arrival in Italy
Juventus appear to be moving closer to the expected signing of Chelsea’s Juan Cuadrado after releasing pictures of the winger being welcomed in Italy. Juve chief executive Giuseppe Marotta was quoted over the weekend saying the Champions League finalists were hopeful of landing the Colombia international on loan.
The Turin club have now further declared their interest by releasing a brief clip of the 27-year-old apparently being mobbed by fans on arrival at Malpensa Airport in northern Italy. Cuadrado, one of Colombia’s star players at last year’s World Cup, has failed to make an impact at Stamford Bridge
since moving from Fiorentina for an initial £23.3 million in February.
He signed a four-and-a-half year contract at Chelsea but it seems the club are already willing to allow him to play elsewhere.
Dyabala and Mandzukic inspire Juventus to Super Cup victory
Juventus’ activities in the transfer market paid off as their new signings Paulo Dyabala and Mario Mandzukic got the goals that gave them victory over Lazio to win the Italian Supercoppa in Shanghai on Saturday. Both goals came in a five-minute spell midway through the second half as Juve claimed the traditional Serie A curtain raiser for the third time in four years.
Mario Mandzukic who joined from Atletico Madrid this summer for £13.6 million, climbed between two defenders to glance home a header from Stefano Sturaro’s right-wing cross.
Dybala then wrapped up the win when he made it 2-0 in the 74th minute — less than quarter of an hour after coming on for Kingsley Coman.
Lazio failed to deal with Mandzukic’s ball into the area and Paul Pogba’s lay-back was smashed into the roof of the net by 21-year-old Dybala, a £24m signing from Palermo in June.
Juve begin the defence of their Serie A title at home to Udinese next Sunday while Lazio host Bologna on Saturday.
Paul Pogba handed Number 10 Jersey
Juventus have announced that Paul Pogba will wear the coveted number 10 Jersey this season following the departure of Carlos Tevez.
Roberto Baggio, Zinedine Zidane and Alessandro Del Piero are just three of the former greats who have worn the No.10 shirt at Juventus — a number which carries a great significance to Bianconeri fans.
It had been reported that the number may not be issued this season, following Tevez’s return to Boca Juniors, while many believed that it was being reserved for a big summer signing, such as Mario Gotze or Julian Draxler.
However, Pogba asked specifically to be given the shirt and the French midfielder will now use the number in the 2015-16 season.
“It’s not easy because all the biggest names in the history of Juventus have worn the No. 10 shirt,” Juve coach Massimiliano Allegri told a news conference in Shanghai, where Juve are preparing to face Lazio in the Supercoppa on Saturday.
“Paul asked for this shirt and he will have more responsibility because wearing that shirt is not simple. I believe Paul’s position is on the outside of a midfield three and maybe in a few years’ time, he will play in front of the defence [in Andrea Pirlo’s position].”
Pogba, 22, was the subject of an €80 million bid from Barcelona which was rejected this summer and, although he is contracted until 2019, the midfielder is attracting attention from the best clubs in the world.
Alvaro Morata ruled out for a month
Serie A champions, Juventus have been hit with another injury blow as Alvaro Morata has been sidelined for a month owing calf injury. The Spain international had been set to start Saturday’s Supercoppa Italiana clash with Lazio in China but tore a calf muscle in training on Tuesday.
Consequently, Morata will now miss Juve’s Serie A opener against Udinese on August 23, as well as the trip to the Stadio Olimpico the following weekend to take on Scudetto rivals Roma.
“Alvaro Morata will be sidelined for up to 30 days after suffering a torn soleus muscle in his left calf,” read a statement released on Juve’s official website.
“Having departed the work-out early, the striker underwent tests today in Shanghai to reveal the full extent of the damage.”
The news of Morata’s injury is coming days after new signing, Sami Khedira was also sidelined for two months after picking up an hamstring injury.
Schalke ends talk with Juventus over Draxler
Schalke have shut the door on the transfer of Julian Draxler to Juventus after both clubs fail to reach an agreement. Julian Draxler already agreed personal terms with the SERIE A champions leaving both clubs to negotiate and reach a conclusion. However, Schalke rejected the bid tabled by Juventus on Monday and also stated they won’t be entertaining talks from the club any longer.
“I can confirm that we received an offer late this afternoon from Juventus,” Horst Heldt told SchalkeTV. “I took a look at it and then decided we would reject it and we have informed Juventus that we are not open to any further talks. We don’t want them to contact our player either. That’s the bottom line.”
Draxler had a release clause in his contract valued at a reported €45 million, though that expired at the end of June. Juventus had reportedly bid much less for the Germany international, leading to Schalke’s blank refusal to negotiate further.
The 21-year-old is contracted to Schalke until 2018. It is not yet certain whether Juve will attempt to test Held by presenting an improved bid, or instead turn their attentions to Mario Gotze, another of their targets once the transfer of Arturo Vidal to Bayern Munich goes through.
Marotta confirms Vidal's exit
Juventus director general, Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed speculations and news that midfielder Arturo Vidal will be leaving the club for Bayern Munich. Marotta told reporters that Vidal who helped Juventus win four successive Serie A titles and reach the final of the last season Champions League final has expressed a desire to embark on a different experience. The Biaconeri official also reiterated the desire of the club to reinforce the squad and maintain the winning model.
“Vidal has expressed his desire to embark on a different experience, just like [Angelo] Ogbonna, [Carlos] Tevez and [Andrea] Pirlo, It’s our duty to maintain our trend of success by reinforcing a winning model. Our aim is to a) equip the boss with a competitive squad and b) ensure the balance sheets are kept in good order.
“We’re happy that we’ve lowered the average age of the squad. We’re already a competitive side. We’ll plug the odd gap in the squad if and when the right opportunity arises.” He said.