Nocerino admits to Viola deal Saturday 6 October, 2007
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Antonio Nocerino has confirmed that he was ready to join Fiorentina in the summer before Juventus recalled the midfielder.
This week director of sport Pantaleo Corvino told the newspapers that Nocerino had been prepared to sign for them, but the deal collapsed at the last minute.
“It is true, I was practically a Viola player,” noted Nocerino. “I was in fact driving towards Florence when Juve director of sport Alessio Secco rang me and asked to turn around to meet with the rest of the team at the Pinzolo training ground.”
Now the Under-21 international completes that journey to Florence, but as an opponent when Juve take on the home side on Sunday.
“Juve represent my big chance and I will do my best with it. I have to thank Claudio Ranieri for the confidence he has shown in me and of course my teammates for welcoming me so warmly.”
Nocerino will probably get the opportunity to start this weekend because Cristiano Zanetti is suspended in midfield with Mauro Camoranesi and Marco Marchionni injured.
He has been compared to Milan and Italy World Cup winner Gennaro Gattuso in the media.
“I have to smile, really. I am nobody and have everything still to prove.”
Channel 4