Chiellini: I called Aquilani
Giorgio Chiellini has revealed that he urged Roma midfield ace Alberto Aquilani to join him at Juventus.
Juve are currently looking for a new midfielder after last summer’s additions Sergio Almiron and Tiago Mendes failed to make an impression.
Giallorossi and Azzurri star Aquilani was one of the Old Lady’s targets, but a move seems out of the question, much to Chiellini’s disappointment.
“I have been playing alongside Alberto in Italy’s youth sides since we were 15 and our parents are very close friends,” the Bianconeri defender said on Sky Sport Italia.
“We have always spoken regularly and I have constantly been telling him to come to Turin.
“I told him about how great this city is and said that the choice was left to him, but the situation isn’t simple because he grew up at Roma and he is strongly tied to that club.”
Juve now look likely to redouble their attempts to land Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso and could move for Inter man Dejan Stankovic, in spite of protests from the fans.
“There are no doubts about Alonso,” Chiellini stated. “He has proven himself year after year for Liverpool.
“He is a great player and he could help us. We need a great champion to help us fight Milan, Inter and Roma, but there are other names.
“Stankovic? It’s only natural that he wouldn’t be that popular here after playing for Inter for so many years,” Chiellini continued.
“However, a player of that type can win over the supporters after a few games.
“I don’t know what decision the club will make, but the fans can rest assured that if he came he would give his all to cancel out the memories of him in an Inter shirt.”
channel4.com
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